Archive for March, 2010
Indoor and Outdoor activities for children
Some children would rather play indoors than outdoors. There are creative activities children can do if they prefer to stay inside.
An indoor game could be done with empty milk cartoons and a rubber ball. Line up the milk cartoons and use the rubber ball to play an indoor bowling game.
Another activity could be to play music for a child to dance. Parents can use a computer, mp3, T.V., radio, or a CD player to have their child dance to their favorite song.
Balloons can be blown up and tossed around in the air to play catch.
Hide and seek is a popular game. Children can hide and run while someone counts.
If there is more than three people musical chairs could be a fun activity to do if there is enough room. Setting up chairs, playing music, and having someone stop the song to see who ends up winning a chair is a clever game. This engages children to run, stand, and requires listening skills.
If parents have the budget buying a Wii game system will have a child use their entire body. Nintendo Playstation and Xbox game systems do not work. Children just sit and use their thumbs to play. The Wii has certain games parents can buy that will involve children to move around.
There are also outdoor activities that could be done in the front of ones house or sidewalk.
Playing softball, soccer, or basketball require some equipment; but are active sports children can do outdoors.
Ridding a bike, jump roping, or playing hopscotch can be done on the sidewalk.
If the weather is nice a walk around the block or visiting a park can be an enjoyable activity for children to do.
Whether it is an indoor or outdoor game parents should be involved to demonstrate that being active is important. The more participation there is by family members the better it is for a child to continue with their preferred activity daily.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Advertising and obesity
Does advertising target children to select unhealthy foods that will possibly make them obese? Considering that there are over 40,000 advertisements if not more targeted at children; majority of ads are unhealthy foods. To name a few McDonalds, Burger King, Chuck and Cheese, ads for sweetened beverages, and candy are all high calorie items.
Advertisers should focus on products and ads that will encourage good eating habits. They should also consider promoting healthier foods that offer fiber or vitamins. Cereal companies such as, General Mills and Kellogg’s, have changed the way they promote their products to demonstrate why their cereals are good for children. Kellogg’s and General Mills display on their boxes the calories, vitamins, and minerals children will receive when they eat a particular cereal. They give numbers and percentages to distinguish the differences in each cereal. This is a good start in promoting their products in a healthier way. Advertising can impact children. If it is doing this in a positive way then it may be worth looking into what exactly the product offers.
Parents can also take control as they are the ones who decide what to purchase for their children. It looks easier to stop by the nearest McDonalds for dinner, but it does not help a childs eating habits. Advertising is highly criticized for the types of products they promote. What has helped to change the perspectives of how ads are targeted to children now are the campaigns and local communities that are uniting to fight against obesity.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )How many causes are there in childhood obesity?
The known causes to childhood obesity are genetics, consuming junk food, physical inactivity, socioeconomic status, and watching T.V. on a regular basis.
Genetics I think is skeptical. If obesity runs in the family I do not think it is because of genetics. It deals more with how much food a child is feed. A food high in calories will take longer to digest. If there is no physical fitness activity involved the massive amount of calories accumulates.
Junk food is a major concern for parents. Schools should do a better job of talking to the vending machine distributors to install healthy snacks. Chips, candy, and salted peanuts are not healthy snacks for a child.
Physical activity is highly implemented to avoid obesity. A child who is not active or lazy will not loose any calories. Promoting a daily activity for a child can help them stay in shape.
I was surprised to read that socioeconomic status is also considered a contributor towards childhood obesity. I guess it makes sense if a family is living in an area where they are exposed to poverty. If there is no nearby access to a grocery store then children turn to fast food restaurants.
There is a constant fight to get children off the T.V., Internet, and video games. Children are spending long hours usually around 6-8 on these media channels. While this is happening they are often eating junk food. Staying in one place for several hours is not healthy for a childs body system.
Looking for these signs can help prevent obesity before it starts. Talking to a pediatrician, schools, or a local community can help make some changes needed for a child health.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )“Letsmove” campaign to help children with obesity
I visited Michelle Obamas campaign website letsmove.gov. They have an extensive detailed website that offers links to other sites working in conjunction to combat against obesity.
They offer tips on activities children can do in the morning, afterschool, or if there in a program. They encourage family time to have children enjoy their workout.
Sports are good physical fitness activities. They also offer links to help parents in knowing how to create safe routes for their children when they are bike riding or walking.
Another category they have is the food pyramid. Since majority of issues with obesity begin when children are infants they have links that take you through their website. If you are an expecting mother you can input information starting with your age, height, due-date, weight, and gender. Then it comes up with a list of activities, foods, and tips pregnant moms can do to stay fit. This is useful information to avoid obesity from birth.
Depending on the state you live in they have information on local grocery stores and nutrition guides. They have the latest information on the news concerning childhood obesity.
They have facts that were new to me. Breakfast is an important meal in a day. Children are more alert and energized. If a child is obese by the age of eight then it is likely that they will continue to be obese throughout adulthood. These are facts stated by Berenson GS, Dietz WH, Freedman DS, Khan LK, Matthews R, Srinivasan SR, and Pollitt E.
It may not be easy but as parents we decided what we put on our childrens plate. Obesity is a greater risk when children are constantly seen for diabetes, high cholesterol, or asthma. If we can decrease the problems with obesity by having our children eat healthy then this could possibly avoid less visits to the doctors office.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Should the government decide what we eat?
Many people across the nation feel that the government is trying to tell them how and what should they feed their kids. There have been several people opposed to having the government tell us how they think their campaign will help them combat their childs obesity. Should our government decide what we eat?
Obesity is an ongoing epidemic. The lifespan of an obese child is predicted to be shorter than their parents if nothing is done to help them make healthier choices. I look at this as a “helping hand” that the government is trying to motivate parents, teachers, athletes, coaches, and communities to help combat the issues of obesity.
It is a campaign that is offering suggestions. They are taking their own initiatives on how they believe their campaign will work to solve a part of the problem with obesity in children.
Parents are important role models for their children. By showing them how to eat healthy will help them make better food choices for their future. Pediatricians can suggest activities or foods that could help ones child lose weight. This alone will not help as a motivation to inspire parents, but a campaign, now that says something to our country as it reaches out to every race, ethnicity, and gender. Knowing that this is a national problem I think our government is in a great start to help obese children in schools, in their community, and to work with several sport celebrities to tackle the problem.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Childrens Healthcare Blog 