The Best GIFT for children…
My son is not lazy. OK, so maybe he would rather sit on the couch and watch 10 episodes of Curious George, than ride his bicycle or play on the swing set…but he’s always up for an adventure. Just the other day, I turned the TV off and asked him if he wanted to do something fun (and preferably away from the TV) with me…to which he very enthusiastically replied “Great idea Mom! Let’s go play the Dora and Boots adventure game on the computer!” Hmmm…can anyone relate? I recently ran across a blog by Kirsti Dyer while searching for ideas to motivate my son to be more active. Dr. Dyer is a physician and Nutrition/Wellness professor at Columbia University. In her blog, Dr. Dyer described the idea of giving children the G.I.F.T. of health and wellness. This helpful acronym stands for:
- Good Nutrition
- Involving Others
- Fitness and Fun
- Teaching Healthy Choices
Good Nutrition
According to Dr. Dyer, The two main keys to remember when teaching children about good nutrition are to:
- Offer children a variety of nutritious foods to support their growth.
- Teach them how to make healthy food choices.
- Parents often tell me that their children are picky eaters, and they feel lucky if they can get them to eat the same chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese every night. My advice is to give your child some choices that are acceptable to both of you. Find some fun recipe books geared towards kids, and allow your child to be involved in the process of choosing foods that are healthy and fun.
Involving Others
“The family that plays together, stays together.” Whether you go on a play date with friends, or play in the backyard as a family, children benefit from doing things with others. They learn about being active by watching your example and others. They will enjoy being active if they see that you enjoy it as well.
Fitness & Fun
Provide a variety of opportunities for your children to be active throughout the week. This doesn’t mean that they have to be signed up for every little league team that comes along. Organized sports are great, but spontaneous trips to the park or the zoo can be just as fun, and provide quality time with your child as well. American Family Fitness has the best of both worlds, with a vast array of organized activities and classes that the whole family can enjoy. Below are some other great options for family fun (and fitness) in and around Richmond:
Teaching Healthy Choices
According to Whitney and Rolfes in their book, Understanding Nutrition, 70 - 80% of a person’s life expectancy depends on health-related behaviors or the lifestyle choices a person makes over a lifetime. We talk to our children about making good choices in regards to their behavior, and their interaction with peers…but how often do we teach our children about making “good choices” when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle? It’s just as important to teach them how to make good healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy foods, being active daily, and getting enough sleep. Consider giving your family the GIFT of a healthy lifestyle. The best gifts are the ones that keep our families healthy and happy.
