Training for kids

With children spending more and more time in front of TV and video screens, training for kids is becoming a real issue. In times past kids got all the exercise they needed playing outside, walking to school, or helping their parents. But in the era of the school run and the Playstation, parents have to be more proactive when thinking about training for kids.

Does it matter if your kids don't get any exercise? According to the American Heart Association, children and adolescents should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day to avoid developing coronary artery disease, strokes and other cardiovascular risks such as obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL ("good") cholesterol and diabetes. To be successful, it's necessary to not only increase your kids' physical activity, but also reduce their sedentary time - that includes not just TV, but also their time spent playing computer games or talking on the phone.

The good news is that there a countless activities you can do with your kids to help them stay active. How about a hike in the woods, visiting the playground or taking the dog for a walk? A game of tag, bouncing on a trampoline, after school sport teams, any and all of these will help your kids to get moving.

A good program that is fun for children and adolescents will help exercise to become a habit, and not a chore. Parents can do their part not only by helping their kids stay active, but also by being good role models with their own life styles.