Winter 2004 Edition     

Overweight Kids   by Mrs. Ann Lustgarten, Fifth Grade Teacher at the Radburn School   Everywhere we look, there are articles about overweight and obese children. The classrooms are filled with couch-potato like children who are visibly heavy. Many also have the pasty, pale look grandmother’s cluck over. The schools, the government, and the media are bombarding us with the need to – DO SOMETHING!  When I was a child, we went to school in our ‘school clothes’ came home at three, changed quickly into ‘play clothes’, and headed out into the neighborhood. Perhaps we grabbed a cookie and some milk on the way but the focus was – getting out to play after having been cooped up in a classroom all day. We hit the sidewalk to see who else was there, decided on an activity and off we went. We stayed within a shout, so when dinnertime rolled around, a simple “Dinner!” sent us all scrambling home.  In the summer, we played all day, stopping home to check-in before changing plans, for lunch, a snack, a pit stop, or dinner. After dinner the neighborhood (parents and children) gathered somewhere for pick up games of kick ball. Some days we even hopped aboard the milk truck to help deliver. Can you imagine anything like that today?  Even when my own, now almost 30 year old, daughter was young, there was a security in letting her run up the street or around the corner to play with a friend. The kids had plenty of fresh air and exercise and the couch-potato syndrome was not as much of a problem. They bicycled to the Library or the pool, one of the advantages of the small town living we chose.  With so much else going on now – two job families, predators, heightened traffic – what can a parent do to make sure their child is moving, burning up those calories, not snacking and get a rosy glow in their cheeks? It is a hard call.   For starters, turn off the TVs and computers. Both have a great value for youngsters, but should be limited. Limit, too, the time your child is allowed on the phone. Bring the TV, computer, and phone into a central location, family room, or such so you can monitor this time. It is just TOO easy for us to let these things become surrogate babysitters when we’re tired from working or need some peace and quiet.  Encourage your child’s participation in team sports. Our recreation department has an extensive roster of sports and activities available for every child, old and young, boy and girl. There is bowling, soccer, basketball, cheerleading, and so forth. There are participant sports available through the YMCA and YMHA groups. Temples and churches have activities for children.  Show your child that you get out and about. Walk to the store or deli. Walk to the library. Park your car in a far end of a parking lot to get a bit more exercise. Walk the dog. Ride your bike (with helmets, please!). When we, ourselves, put our bodies on the ‘couch’, we are modeling a somewhat negative behavior.  Plan ‘play dates’ for your kids and then send them out into the yard. Go with them. You can garden or read a book while they’re nearby. Take them to one of the many parks we have in town, all with up-to-date playground equipment.  Feed them healthy snacks (peanut butter on apples, carrot and dip, etc.). You would be surprised at how popular the veggies and dip and plain popcorn go over at class parties.  At this time of year, make sure they are coming to school with hats, gloves, scarves and so forth. This will give them an opportunity to go outside at noontime to get a need break and fresh air, as well as burn up so of that pent up energy. You wouldn’t believe the number of children, driven to school from as little as a block away, with wet heads and little winter clothing. Good heavens, you might even want to let them walk to school – but definitely with a friend or group!   It is only when we take an active role in helping our children see and do positive things to make their bodies move and prepare for healthy lives that we can begin to see a positive change.   See Mrs. Lustgarten's Previous Columns Kids in the Summer (Summer 2003) Are Kids Different Today?   (April 2003) Taking Advantage of Down Time  (February 2003) Achoo:  What to Do With A Sick Child   (December 2002) Scheduling After-School Activities  (October 2002) Back To School  (August 2002) Summer With the Kids  (June 2002) PTA/PTO Involvement  (April 2002) Telling The Teacher  (February 2002)