Promote active living in your child

Many of us are trying to combat the perils of a society where childhood obesity and inactivity are rampant. As parents, teachers or coaches, the role you play in assisting to empower children for life is vital.

Canadian Living is going to continue to provide you with ideas so that you can build a toolbox full of great exercise ideas for your family, as well as brief you on the safeties in athletic development during different stages of maturation.

When we were children, staying out all day, walking creek beds, playing at the park for hours and creating many places of adventure was the norm. In those times creativity, imagination, and thrill seeking enhanced our abilities in balance, agility, read and react skills, co-ordination and core strength. The children of today fight for more time on the computer, video games and television. As parents, we must be part of the activity action and instill lifelong fitness skills and fun.

The following advice and information was provided by Dr. Gregory S. Anderson, PhD Chair, Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University College of the Fraser Valley:

"Increasing a child's movement repertoire requires the planned, purposeful repetition of quality movements. Children should be exposed to a variety of fun, innovative movement challenges that will stress their motor capabilities.

"Children today are less active, more obese, and lack fundamental movement skills. Teaching children how to move efficiently and improving their movement repertoire will help increase their self-efficacy and self-esteem, making them more confident and comfortable joining new activities.

"Children are not miniature adults, and the development of children in sports must recognize this. Too often children's programs are modelled after those designed for adults, or even professional athletes.

Young children should be exposed to a wide breadth of fun activities, emphasizing development of a variety of fundamental skills. The American Academy of Pediatrics (1989), in their position statement on organized athletics for pre-adolescent children, clearly states that the pre-adolescent years should be seen as a 'time for teaching fundamental motor skills; developing fitness in a practical, safe and gradual manner and promoting desired attitudes and values.'"