You take the kids to the pool three times a week. That should be enough exercise to keep them healthy, right? Not if you're considering their bone health.

Swimming is a great exercise, but it isn't a winner when it comes to osteoporosis (low bone density) prevention. In order to stimulate children's bones to make more bone and become stronger, there must be mechanical stress on the bone. Sports in which children are running, jumping, or lifting - such as soccer, basketball, and weight lifting - provide the stress to the skeleton that helps the body to lay down more bone. Swimming keeps the body weightless, so there is no such impact on the bones.

The short answer is this: swimming is a good part of an overall exercise plan, but it shouldn't be the only exercise that your children participate in.