Daily Exercise Plan to Keep Kids Healthy

Did you know that slim children only get twelve more minutes of exercise, per day, than do heavier children? According to the American Journal of Public Health, young children gain weight faster during summer vacation than they do during the school year.

Doug Downey, a sociologist at Ohio State University says that “Children don’t have access to food and snacks in school the way they do at home and they may be spending more time playing video games inside.” On average children watch 3 to 5 hours of television a day, during which they are usually snacking. That doesn’t leave much room for exercise in their schedule.

So what can you do for your children that will help them stay slim and in shape?

You can start by having healthy, yummy, snacks around the house. Instead of buying chips or candy, try frozen grapes with sugar on top. You could also try some apples and peanut butter, or carrots and ranch dressing. You can replace soda with chocolate milk, or make smoothies.

When it comes to a physical aspect, try getting your children involved in a sport, or enroll them in a summer camp. When picking summer camps, be sure exercise is incorporated. During the summertime, make your summer vacation fun and active! Instead of going to the beach and lying in the sun, bring a football, volleyball, Frisbee, or shovels and buckets to stay active. Be sure to bring lots of water though!

Also, during the winter time, a ski vacation is a great source of exercise and is fun for the whole family! No matter what time of the year, limiting your child’s T.V. watching and video gaming time will help to keep your child slim and fit.

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