11 ways to get your teen to exercise

5. Cheer them on whenever possible. Although all of our children reached the stage when they wanted to deny they even had parents, let alone be seen in public with them, they never objected to our coming to their basketball games, rugby tournaments, or dance recitals. In fact, only a few days ago Alexandra thanked me for driving over an hour to watch her rugby game. I'm not expecting this to be followed by an invitation to hang out with her on the weekend; I'm content just to know that my support and interest meant something to her.

6. Be a good parental model. The next item puts me to shame -- parental modeling. Fortunately Kathy has set the example in the family; this is one area in which I don't mind being ignored by our children. As reviewed by Susan Duncan and her colleagues at the Oregon Research Institute, modeling can be direct or indirect. The direct form involves sharing the activity with your son or daughter. Indirect modeling occurs when teens live in an environment in which exercise and sports are part of their parents' way of life. Modeling is one of the known predictors of how active children will be in their adolescent years.

7. Make it known that, as far as possible, you'll provide instrumental support such as funding certain activities and being available for transportation.

8. Encourage siblings to be more supportive. Much depends, of course, on the sibling relationship. Had I been into sports, I know my brother would have shown interest in watching only if the event pitted me against a gladiator with attitude or a ravenous lion. But if there's a sibling who is so inclined, encourage them to be a spectator or support their sister or brother in some other way.

9. Take account of individual preferences and personalities. Some young people thrive on competition, and sports teams may be a good choice for them. Others have a definite aversion to highly competitive pursuits and may be far more motivated for cooperative or solitary activities such as hiking, fitness classes and biking.

10. Increase opportunities to be physically active. One example is a variant of the "take the stairs instead of the elevator" maxim. Suggest changes in transportation, such as driving them only partway to school or a friend's house. Plan family outings that involve physical activities. Going to a place where you can play Frisbee guarantees a MET of at least 3, and if you can swim, the energy expenditure is more than doubled. If they're enthusiastic shoppers, plan to go to the entrance farthest away from the stores they intend to visit. The advent of super malls has meant that going from one end to the other is quite a jaunt. Believe it or not, articles have been written on the merits of "mall walking."

11. Consider having exercise tapes and basic equipment available at home. Several researchers have found that home-based exercising is particularly effective for certain people. For example, teens who are very self-conscious about their abilities or weight may prefer to exercise in the privacy of their homes, at least initially.

Page 2 of 2

Excerpted from Now I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young: Surviving a New Generation of Teenagers by Dr. Peter Marshall, with a foreward by Barbara Coloroso. Copyright 2007 by Dr. Peter Marshall. Excerpted with permission by Whitecap Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publishers.