Here are some fitness tips parents can use at home.  They were published recently in an article regarding childhood obesity ….

Encouraging physical fitness is not solely a school’s responsibility. Michelle Gorman, the Healthy Blue Services supervisor for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, says there are a lot of things parents can do at home to make sure exercise is a regular part of their child’s life.

• Join your kids….“Be a good role model. When the parent is exercising regularly and eating healthy foods, they are really setting that example that will shape that kid’s habits for life. . . . Get the kids involved in doing chores, dusting, sweeping, washing the car. Turn on some great music and dance and have fun with it.”

 • No time?….“The nice thing about exercise is that all minutes count. . . . For a child, you need 60 minutes. And you can break those up into 10-minute time frames. It doesn’t have to be a big, long walk. It can be right after dinner going outdoors to play tag with them.”

 • Lifestyle change….“Turn off that television set. That screen time should be limited. We want them only to watch two hours a day. That’s from the American Academy of Pediatrics – turn off that television and enjoy the outdoors. Jump around and play and be kids on most days, if not all days, for 60 minutes.”

 • Be alert….“Talk with your child. Really monitor how they are dressing – layering clothes to make themselves look bigger. Work with their physician to make sure their weight is not fluctuating too much and track them on a growth chart.”

 - Eugene Scott/The Republic/azcentral.com