Encourage Kids to Get Up and Be Active this Summer

Getting children to be active and off the couch is important for their physical well being and overall health.

"Keeping kids active is important because they need physical activity in order to be healthy and prevent being overweight," says Sarah Hampl, MD, pediatrician at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics and Medical Director of the PHIT Kids program. "We know that physical activity also improves the cardiovascular health of kids."

Time spent outside highly correlates with being physically active. Parents can no longer count on the Physical Education classes in school, to provide sufficient physical activity, says Hampl.

Studies have shown that students are physically active in PE class for only 30% of the class time. As children get older, the percentage participating in PE classes declines dramatically. Estimates show only 25% of our nation's teens are physically active at the recommended levels.

Following are recommendations Dr. Hampl suggests to keep your kids active this summer:

• Don't just tell your kids to go play outside, go play with them. Studies have shown that kids who grow up in families where both parents are physically active have a very good chance of being physically active themselves as adults. Parents are the most important role model in their child's life. Set a good example.
• Limit your child's access to TV, video games and computer to less than 2 hours a day. Make this a family change, and don't have different rules for different kids. Parents need to set a good example here as well, and limit their own TV time to less than 2 hours a day.
• Try many different physical activities so your child has a chance to choose. It may take many tries to find something your child really likes doing. Studies have shown that children and adults are more likely to sustain the physical activity if they get to choose what they are doing.
• Modify the physical activity to fit the developmental level of the child. Very young children may enjoy kicking and throwing a ball, dancing or riding a tricycle. Elementary school-aged children may enjoy going to the park and looking for pretty rocks or play-acting their favorite story in addition to tumbling and dancing. Older children are more able to participate in group physical activities such as softball or soccer.
• Many children may live in neighborhoods where it is unsafe to be outside without adult supervision. Parents may need to travel a small distance in order to find a place where their whole family can be physically active together. Such examples would be KCMO Parks and Recreation Community Centers and neighborhood YMCAs. Boys and Girls Clubs are another good and inexpensive option.