The Role Parents Play in Getting and Keeping Their Kids Fit

Today, children in Canada and the United States are less healthy than children a generation ago. The data from the Canadian, 2010 National Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth is extremely alarming, “ Kelly Murumets, president and CEO of ParticipAction, said. “Truly, if we don’t start addressing children and youths’ physical activity levels, we’re basically mortgaging their future and bankrupting Canada’s health care costs, which are no longer sustainable.”

Why Is Inactivity a BIG Deal

*Two-thirds of Canadian children are not sufficiently physically active for optimal growth and development.

* 25% of Canadian children are considered overweight.


*Obesity rates have tripled in the past 30 years and obesity threatens the healthy future of one third of all American children.

Who Is Responsible For Getting and Keeping Kids Fit

The National Association for Sports and Physical Education explains the new, US initiative: “The goal of Let's Move in School is to ensure that every school provides a comprehensive school physical activity program with quality physical education as the foundation so that youth will develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime.”

 There are many key players responsible to get and keep our kids physically fit. The ball has to pass from our policymakers, to the schools and to the parents.

What Should Parents Do

*Know your child’s interest and do not push a sport or activity because you liked it.

*Choose physical activities to match your child’s abilities and ensure success.


*Keep your expectations reasonable. If your bar is too high your child is doomed to failure and frustration from the start.

*Be supportive and respect your child’s emotional and physical maturity. Each child is unique and should not be compared to others and siblings.

*Set limits on sedentary activities including watching television, computer use, phone and texting and playing electronic games.

*Have equipment on hand like balls, skipping ropes, basketball hoop, bikes, sleds, swings, slides, bean bags, electronic interactive active games…

*Encourage free play and playing outdoors if possible.


*Organize active family outings, weekends and vacations.


*Strive for being fit, having fun and laying the foundation for an active adult lifestyle.

All individuals benefit from regular physical activity and special needs children especially could all gain from these physical, mental and social benefits. Read related post below.

There are so many things in life we cannot offer our children because of time constraints, other responsibilities, the unavailability or inaccessibility in our area, the expense, our lack of skills or the disinterests of our children but parents can all be role models for an active lifestyle and dependable allies in their children’s physical fitness.

How is your family getting and keeping fit? What are your challenges? 

Related Posts:
*Benefits of Daily Physical Activity for Children
*Adaptive Sports and Physical Activites for Special Needs Children
*Girls Lack of Physical Activity Begins With the Way They Dressed
*Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth

Why Is Your Overweight Child Eating When Not Hungry

Usually children eat when they are hungry. If your child is looking for food as soon as he leaves the supper table, this indicates there is a problem. Reasons your child is eating all the time could be to fulfill an unmet need or because it is self-comforting. It could be for oral gratification because of a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or because he is stressed, depressed, angry or frustrated.

Where To Start

Start by bringing your child to your family doctor. Explain what you think is happening and follow through on the tests your doctor will probably ask your child to have. When any medical conditions are ruled out and you still feel your child eats when he is not hungry, continue looking for answers. Ask your family doctor to make appointments with other health care professionals who work with overweight children, such as registered dietitians, psychologists, and exercise physiologists.

Is This Really Serious

Your search for answers is very important. This unhealthy eating habit will lead to overweight and related health problems that may follow your child into his adult years.

The KidsHealth.org site states: “The number of overweight kids has increased a lot over the last 30 years. Today, 15% of kids ages 6 to 19 are overweight. That's bad news because being overweight can lead to health problems, like diabetes and heart disease.”

As your child progresses through school, being overweight is a terrible burden in terms of his own physical wellbeing and on his social wellbeing. It should not be this way, but overweight school kids are often the greatest victims of bullying and they experience all the heartaches bullying entails. Seek help for your child as soon as you notice there is a problem because the road before you see results could be a long one.

What Can a Parent Do On His Own

Parents know their child best and they are the ones who can observe them around the clock. To keep track of your observations, write dated, journal entrees that you can share with his/her healthcare professionals. When your child grabs something to eat between meals, jot down the events/activities going on or that are scheduled to happen soon.

Talk with your child to find out how he/she is feeling. Question your child about his day, about what is going on the next day, about his friends, about his classes and teachers.

Schedule a conference with his teachers to find out what is really going on in school. Share with your child’s teachers your problem and ask them for their help is solving it. Arrange to have chats with your child’s friends and their parents. Sometimes answers can only be found by adding many details to make a big picture.

Your child may eat primarily for oral gratification, rather than to satisfy any real, physical hunger. If this is the case, his overwhelming urge to bite or chew can be redirected to acceptable, safe chewables or at least to crunchy, raw vegetables that have few calories. Many choices of chewables are available in Special Needs Stores and online. Provide your child with sensory oral-motor tools to see if they can stop his unhealthy eating habit. Girl in photo is chewing on Kid Companions Chewelry http://www.chewelry.ca/

So you had a problem. You tackled it immediately. You sought professional help. You are not giving up before you see positive results. Throughout all this you remain your child’s strongest ally and supporter. This is what good parenting is all about…what more can you do?

Please add your suggestions on what else could be done to help such a child.

Related posts:

*What Goes In a Personalized Sensory Box

*Why, When and How To Talk To Your Child's Teacher