did you know
HAC is a great
place to be active with
your kids, as seen here
as mommies and their
minis dance during
HAC’s Noon Years
Eve celebration!
Active
Parents,
Active Kids
By Dr. Judith Feick, Nemours
duPont Pediatrics, Pike Creek
Take weekly bike rides with your second-grader or go on
daily walks with your teen and, chances are, the drive to
exercise just might start to kick in. A recent study by researchers
at Northwestern University found that kids tend to copy
their parents’ unhealthy habits, so your example might
have more of an effect than you think.
Although some issues such as obesity,
high blood pressure, and high cholesterol
can be genetic, they are also affected by
lifestyle. The study found that children are
significantly more likely to be at risk for these
health problems and cardiovascular disease if
their caregiver has these risk factors as well.
From infancy through adolescence,
you can help your child stay
active when you:
Get lost with your
kiddos in the
maze, or splash
with them in the
leisure pool!
• are active yourself —
show your youngster
the importance of
regular exercise by
making it a welcome
part of your family’s
daily routine
• limit screen time (TV,
computer, video
games and cell
phones) — none for kids
under 2 and no more than
1-2 hours of quality program
ming and content for tots 2 and up
• make it fun — instead of forcing certain
activities, figure out what keeps your kid
moving and what he or she loves to do
HOW TO ENCOURAGE HEALTHY
HABITS AT ALL AGES
Infants need help nurturing their budding
skills as they grow. You can help by:
• allowing plenty of supervised “tummy
time” while awake
• helping them learn how to roll over by
gently guiding them back and forth
• encouraging them to reach (and later,
crawl) by placing enticing toys slightly
out of reach
• teaching action songs, like “Pat-A-Cake,”
“This Little Piggy,” “The Itsy Bitsy Spider,”
and “Pop Goes the Weasel”
• holding their little hands gently as
they learn to walk, while resisting the
urge to jump in at times when shaky
beginner walkers take a tumble. Let
them learn how to push up, using the
palms of their hands, to stand on
their own.
• not keeping your baby in things that
restrict their movement too often, like
strollers, bouncy seats, swings, and
car seats
enhance magazine | MAY 2016
3