Sundays. Love, love, love them; especially in the Fall. And after spending most the morning outside, running with Simon (my always energetic, Muppet-like puppy) and walking to the market, I find that I’m actually excited to sit on the couch and do nothing but eat a little homemade chili and watch football. – I could care less about the game but there’s something about football that nostalgically brings me back to my childhood.
This got me thinking about how the American family dynamic has changed so drastically in the last 10-20 years. As kids, we never actually sat down and watched the football game but instead it was background noise to us running in and out of the house playing tag or our made-up version of hotbox. Now, it’s more likely that kids will be found playing on the computer while watching the game from the other room.
According to the Child Trends Data Bank, “More than one in six adolescents ages 12 to 19 were overweight in the United States in 2003-2004, more than triple the rate in 1976-1980. One obvious correlation to the weight gain is the decreased levels of activity.” Read more at http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/.
This is not necessarily new or jaw-dropping information as most of us are well aware of the affects of too much food and not enough exercise in adults and youth. But children depend on us to teach them about eating right and staying active. More and more companies and youth influencers are trying to do just that. The NFL, for example, partnered with the American Heart Association to develop a youth program called the NFL Rush Play60 (www.nflrush.com/play60/) . The challenge encourages youth to run around and play for at least 60 minutes every day. The promotion site includes tips, pro-player encouragement and even an interactive “game planner” to track your progress. It’s one of the first youth-focused, online exercise programs out there. I wonder how successful it will be…
If you’re concerned about your child’s activity level or want a new way to encourage them, then it’s definitely something to try. *But please remember to consult a physician before starting an exercise routine.
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