Be A Healthy Example To Children
Little children are like sponges… they soak up the examples and beliefs of those around them – especially those of their parents. So what kind of example are you setting for your kids when it comes to physical fitness? Are they hearing you moan and complain about exercise? Or do they see you exercising happily and energetically?
The other morning, I went out for a brisk four mile walk. When I got home, my little five year old daughter had just woken up. She saw I was in my workout clothes and excitedly asked, “Can we go on a bike ride together?” Part of me just wanted to sit down for a minute and rest, but she was so excited to go on a ride, that I couldn’t resist her request. We got our water bottles ready, checked our bike tires and headed out the door.
I told her that this was HER bike ride, so she could be the leader and decide where we were going to go. She chose to lead us down a steep and curvy hill, along a scenic road by the river, down a long path in the country, and then back up another steep and curvy hill to take us home. The course she took us on was NOT an easy ride – especially for a five year old. Each time we stopped for a water break, I asked her if she was ready to head back home – thinking that she must be worn out. To my surprise, her reply each time I asked was, “Not yet mom – I’m having too much fun exercising!”
I LOVED hearing her enthusiasm for exercise! I also loved knowing that she formed this healthy opinion of exercise because of the example we try to set in our home regarding physical fitness. As our bike ride went on and on, I was beginning to worry that she was over doing it… after all, we had been out in the hot sun for quite a long time. I finally convinced her to head home and as we neared the top of a very steep hill, a seasoned biker rode past and congratulated my daughter on her persistence and hard work. My daughter beamed with pride and said, “See how good of an exerciser I am mom? I am going to be so healthy when I grow up!”
As childhood obesity rates are on the rise, it is vital that we teach our children good habits and beliefs about exercise. If they view exercise as being something fun to do, they will continue to do it throughout their lives. If they view exercise as being boring or hard to do, they won’t have a desire to do it and as a result, their health will suffer. Make sure your kids are getting a positive picture of physical fitness directly from YOU by your words and your actions. Be a good example and exercise often! Get creative in how you exercise and invite your kids to do it with you. Not only will your health benefit, but your relationship will too!
Make A Comment: ( 5 so far )
5 Responses to “Be A Healthy Example To Children”
Krista
August 11th, 2008
Oh my Krista – you are right about trying to get the kids and hubby feeling like healthy eating is just as important as exercise! For some reason, tempting treats seem to win them over every time! 
LOL! I will definitely plan on posting some helpful ideas about how to tackle that one!
Liz Rosenbaum
August 11th, 2008
Getting my husband and kids to eat like I do would be wonderful. I can’t wait to hear some great suggestions.
I guess it comes down to *me* who does the cooking to be more on top of what I make…I guess my husband may not think he needs to eat like *I DO* because he is tall and thin and I have to be more careful..What he doesn’t understand that a perfectly THIN person can have just as many wrong factors going on inside their body…heart burn-indegestion, high cholestrol, BP, achy joints, bloating, tired etc… I have been trying to eat and live by a good glycemic index diet. The spike we get in our blood sugar is amazing..One minute we are on a high (especially our kids) and the next our sugar levels are at a low. Then we are constantly eating sugar, or caffeine to give us the rush..Why not keep a constant blood sugar and feel *LIGHT ON OUR FEET* rather than weighted down because we feel ICKY and not realizing it’s what food we put in our body that is making us tired, bloated and down right LAZY at times..Or our moods..One minute we are happy and the next minute we have the blues…
Okay Liz…gotta get my kids and husband on board with this…I want my kids and husband to be right there with me…
Any and all suggestions send them my way…
Krista
kristadeeann@yahoo.com
Krista
August 12th, 2008
i completly agree! macie has started waling with me on saturdays! =)
she’s tired, poor thing!
she has also started asking more questions about what I am eating!
annie
August 18th, 2008
I agree that example sets the mood for our children. Each morning I’m up by 5:30 and my kids know that at 6:00a.m. Mom is working out!!
I walk my son to school each day and he rides his bike. I asked him if he wanted me to drive him to school one day and he said, “No Mom this keeps us healthy.” So, example is so important..
Now…If only I could get my kids and *cough-cough* my husband to eat healthy like I do…I would be SO HAPPY…(That is so tough) any suggestions to help them know how important that is as well. Exercise and good nutrition go hand in hand…It’s hard for them to get that concept…we’ll get there though..
Krista