www.freemanhealth.com/peds
Healthy Activity to Keep Your Child Growing Strong
SponSor Content
Power Up Your Child's Play:
By Dr. Kimra Ross, Freeman Health
System Pediatrician
Let's start with the good news: If the
kids in your family aren't getting
enough physical activity, you're far
from alone. The bad news, though,
is that means that three out of four
American children are not getting the
recommended 60 minutes of physical
activity each day. And that's bad news
on a lot of fronts for our nation's kids.
Physical activity does more than keeps
kids healthy in the here and now. It also
reduces their risks of health conditions
like heart disease, high blood pressure
and diabetes later in life. More than
that, it boosts a child's confidence and
lowers levels of anxiety and depression.
It also helps kids sleep better and even
improves their academic performance.
Like all things, though, if your child
isn't doing it now, there's probably
a barrier that's holding them back.
Whether it's time, money or a lack of
interest in traditional sports, there's
plenty of reasons little Johnny might
not be signing up for little league this
summer. Fortunately, there are lots
of easy, free and non-athletic ways to
get your child and your whole family
moving!
✓
Move together as a family. Take a
family walk after dinner each night.
Have dance parties while you cook
dinner. Play catch, hide-and-seek or tag.
You can even arrange a scavenger hunt
or create an obstacle course.
✓
Limit screen time. And lead by
example. This is a tough one, but
kids are much more likely to respect
screen time limits if they see that you
limit your screen time, too.
✓
Use exercise as a reward. Help your
child create positive associations
with exercise by using it as a reward –
not a punishment or an obligation. They
might not enjoy group sports,
but they might welcome a
30-minute homework
break to take a walk
or go to the park.
✓
Get
creative.
Activity
doesn't have
to look like
exercise.
Does you
child enjoy
gardening?
That counts
as physical
activity! Do
you have a little artist? Take a camera
or a sketch pad on a walk and give them
new subjects for their art.
The sky is the limit when it comes to
helping your child reach their activity
goals. How will you incorporate
movement into your family's life?
For more information about healthy
activity, visit www.healthychildren.org
for American Association of
Pediatrics recommendations. Visit
www.freemanhealth.com/pediatrics
for more information about pediatric
services at Freeman Health System.
6 • MArCH 2023 • www.OfficialKidsMag.com