Healthy Fresno

Talking to your kids about the right things to do to be healthy is a good first step. But remember, actions speak louder than words.

Everything you do affects the habits your kids develop – from the vocabulary you use, to the way you dress, to the foods you bring home, to the examples you set with your own eating habits and physical activity.

• Keep nutritious foods in your cabinets, and serve healthy meals for the family.
• Make sure that you incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, and get your kids involved. Take a family walk in the morning before work or school or in the evening after you’ve all had dinner. 

Break up the Couch Potato Parties: Encourage Kids to Be Active

According to the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation survey “Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year Olds,” every day the average American child age 8 to 18 spends:

• Nearly four hours watching TV, videos, DVDs, and prerecorded shows.
• Just over one hour on the computer.
• About 50 minutes playing video games.

That means that the average American child devotes more than one day out of the whole week to “couch potato” activities.

Here are some ideas for how you can help your kids turn off the TV:

• Kids whose parents watch a lot of TV, also watch a lot of TV. If you want your kids to be active, you should be active, too.
• Set limits on the amount of time they watch. One or two hours a day, at the most.
• Let kids earn their “couch potato” time by doing something active first.

Here are some ideas for active things kids can do to work up a good sweat:

• Jump rope
• Ride a bike
• Do sprints (short running races) and time them
• Play tag, catch, Frisbee, or hide-and-go-seek
• Walk the dog
• Go for a hike or walk around the neighborhood
• Visit the local pool for a swim
• Get a group together and play a game. How about basketball, soccer, or wiffleball?
• Join an athletic team
• Take dance classes (jazz, tap, ballet)