Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

The My Overweight Child blog will help you keep informed about the latest research, findings, and resources available to parents of overweight or obese kids. There are many knowledgeable people working on the increasingly dire problem of childhood obesity - and we want to give parents a place where they can check in regularly to see the latest studies and tips available to help you help your child lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We invite you to add your comments - if you have feedback for the blog, would like some specific topics covered, or you just want to share your experience as a parent dealing with childhood obesity.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Kids Need to Unplug, Get Up, Get Out(side)

When we were kids, we played hopscotch, hide-and-seek and kick-the-can. Today, kids play Wii, X-Box and PlayStation; and they do it all inside.

“The average American child age 8 – 18 spends more than 7 hours daily in front of screens – television, video games and cell phones, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study…The World Wildlife Federation suggests pitching a tent just steps from your door as part of the sixth annual Great American Backyard Campout June 26.” [Source: The Oregonian]

Getting kids away from their electronics and back outside doesn’t have to include a trip to a state park, or a long camping trip somewhere far away. A simple walk around the block can suffice.

Use the time to explore nature as it exists in your backyard and your neighborhood. Try to identify the trees, birds and insects that you see along the way. Help your kids begin to appreciate the real world as much as they do their “cyberworlds.”


 

Labels: exercise, nature

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton

Comments:

Chelsea on 1/17/2011
It's sad to think that for some kids going outside to play is seen as a bad thing. I understand the appeal of video games, tv, computers, etc, but it sets up a pattern that can be carried throughout their lives, and it's not a healthy pattern. People need to disconnect from electronics and enjoy life outside and away from it all.