Family fitness
A lot of us struggle with finding enough time to exercise. We get distracted with the responsibilities of beings adults and parents. We often see physical activity/exercise as having to be separate from family time and struggle with finding the time given all the other pressures in our busy lives.
As a dad who works fulltime, finding time to exercise and spending as much time as possible with my wife and two-year-old daughter has become more of a challenge.
But I’ve found combining the two hugely rewarding for the whole family. This was brought home to me recently, when I went into the garage to do the recycling with daughter in tow. She began to get our bike helmets out and was adamant that we were getting on that bike! It became evident that one of her favourite things to do is to go out on the bike with mum and dad. It’s a great combination; dad pedalling away furiously, whilst Eve relaxes and laughs in her nice and comfortable padded bike seat.
While adult obesity in New Zealand is high, disturbingly obesity in children is also alarming. The 2002/03 New Zealand Health Survey reported one in five New Zealand adults as obese and the 2002 Children’s Nutrition Survey showed that about one third of New Zealand children between five to 14 years were overweight (21 per cent) or obese (10 per cent).
I’m sure we have all seen the ads for Push Play in the past, encouraging adults to get at least 30 minutes per day of physical activity. SPARC guidelines for children say kids need at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. This is not for fitness or weight loss; it is just to maintain good health.
What kids want from us as parents is our time and attention. We can’t just send them off and demand they be active. We need to engage them in activity and role model to them through our behaviour.
It makes great sense to combine our own fitness/exercise regime and activity for our kids. It doesn’t have to be as strenuous as running or biking; it can be simple daily tasks like walking to the shop.
Tips on increasing activity for kids
• Physical activity should be increased by reducing sedentary time (e.g. watching television, playing computer video games or talking on the phone).
• Physical activity has to be fun for children.
• Parents should try to be role models for active lifestyles and (plan) provide children with opportunities for increased physical activity.
• Make it special family time; bike or walk somewhere for a picnic.
• Use it as a treat, like hydro-sliding.
• Give presents that encourage activity; bikes, cricket bats, netballs, basketball hoops, boogie boards etc.
• Be active with friends and whanau at home, school, and in the community, and spend less than two hours a day (out of school time) in front of television, computers and game consoles.
• Be active in as many ways as possible; for example, through play, cultural activities, dance, sport and recreation, jobs, and going from place to place.
• Introduce afterschool sports or fitness clubs.
By Paul Dunn, YMCA Christchurch health and fitness coordinator
