Exercise Equals Fun!

Getting America's children to exercise has never been more difficult as the new boob-tube generation slouches in front of TVs, or sits for hours, mesmerized behind shoot-out video and computer games.

However, it is possible to foster a regular exercise pattern for children from an early age, with simple activities that are more "fun" than "exercise."

America's Pastimes

Back in the day, kids played hopscotch and tag and didn't know that it qualified as exercise! Reviving America's pastimes could be an easy way to promote physical fitness. Hopscotch improves balance and coordination, while the constant stop-go running in a healthy game of tag elevates the heart rate to more efficiently burn calories. Jumping rope is another American favorite that has fallen by the wayside. The regular interval in jumping rope pumps the heart steadily, and is an efficient form of aerobic exercise.

Biking

Biking is another excellent way to get a child to exercise. From first learning on a tricycle to the celebrated arrival of the two-wheeler, biking is something that can be viewed as an achievement, as well as an easy way to increase a child's physical activity. Biking helps children develop coordination, balance, work the back muscle groups that aid good posture, and build up leg muscles. Moreover, biking gives children an easy way to travel to their friends' houses and assert independence--an added incentive that will get those legs, and lungs, pumping! As nine-year old Michelle Yuen says, "I love riding my bike. It's so much fun. I ask my mom, and then I can bike down to my friend's house."

Rollerblading

Bikes aren't the only wheels that kids can use to rev up their heart rate. Rollerblading is an activity that can be done indoors, and out, and an activity the whole family can join in. Whether in an indoor skating rink, or just playing by the sidewalk, rollerblading is an activity that is fun for the children and healthy as well.

A Walk with Fido

Another exercise that can be performed daily by a child is none other than the traditional walk with the dog. Jogging, or even walking at a brisk pace, with the dog, floods the body with endorphins and a slew of other health benefits related to exercise. Bring along a stick to throw to Fido, and the workout has becomes even more intense. What's more: walking the dog everyday is a sure-fire way to maintain regular exercise, which is much more advantageous, in the long run, than intermittent exercising.

Yoga for Kids

Yoga has taken America by storm in recent years. From celebrity yogis like Madonna to stay-at-home moms, yoga has proven to be a way to tone and "center" the mind and body. Yoga is beginning to creep into the school gym programs, too. Just as many high schools throughout the nation have begun offering yoga as a gym option, many "yoga for kids" programs have sprung up as well. Yoga aims to tone the muscle groups, aid coordination, and improve flexibility through stretching. In addition, it has been said that a key principle in yoga, correct breathing, seems to alleviate stress in children.

Exercise that isn't Exercise

Taking the non-traditionalist approach to exercising is just as easy. Children can help mom carry the groceries or walk with her to the drugstore. Whatever the case, mixing up a regular exercise pattern for kids helps them create a healthy lifestyle.

And Don't Forget? If you want high energy, fun exercise routines to keep kids healthy, try exercise videos. Professional trainers will challenge your child with safe exercises to increase balance, coordination and shed pounds.

What's more, fitness is a family event. So for children, who want to work out like mom or dad, try mini trampolines or Urban rebounders, Dance revolution, exercise bikes and weight training equipment. These kid-sized fitness tools are made for your child's growing needs and are priced affordably. So, keep your child fit by having fun. To learn additional information about Urban rebounder or other exercise equipment visit our link at www.fitnessandkids.com

Denise Nero is the owner of http://www.fitnessandkids.com. Stop by and Subscribe to HealthyNews Ezine for more great exercise, diet tips, children's health and fitness, freebies and more.

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Google News Updated : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:55:52 GMT Vitamin D Supplementation Guidelines for Youngsters Doubled - Washington Post ABC News Vitamin D Supplementation Guidelines for Youngsters Doubled Washington Post - 9 hours ago By Amanda Gardner MONDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The leading children's medical organization in the United States on Monday announced that it has doubled the amount of vitamin D recommended for infants, children and adolescents. Video: HealthWatch CBS Vitamin D recommendation for kids is doubled Los Angeles Times WebMD - ABC News - New York Times - KEYC all 609 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:11:02 GMT Same-Sex Marriage and the Rights of Citizenship - New York Times ABC News Same-Sex Marriage and the Rights of Citizenship New York Times - 1 hour ago The Connecticut Supreme Court deserves praise for acknowledging, as other states that allow same-sex marriage have not, the constitutional principles that compelled the justices to guarantee all consenting adult Americans the right to enjoy the ... Gays rush to wed ahead of election Washington Times Comment by Evan Wolfson Executive Director, Freedom to Marry National Review Online Blogs - News10.net - WCAX - Catholic Weekly all 1,913 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:41:27 GMT Morgan Stanley Can't Please Everyone - Forbes Wall Street Journal Morgan Stanley Can't Please Everyone Forbes - 2 hours ago Morgan Stanley and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial may have pleased investors, but they failed to reassure the ratings services. Morgan Stanley (nyse: MS - news - people ) shares surged more than 85.0% Monday after it received a $9.0 billion investment from ... Mitsubishi UFJ Gets Better Terms From Morgan Stanley (Update1) Bloomberg Fitch cuts Morgan Stanley's default ratings to 'A/F1' MarketWatch New York Times - Reuters - Washington Post - St. Louis Post-Dispatch all 1,706 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:40:53 GMT Wildfires threaten LA homes; two people dead - Reuters CBC.ca Wildfires threaten LA homes; two people dead Reuters - 4 hours ago By Steve Gorman and Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Deadly wind-driven brush fires roared out of the foothills and canyons on the northern fringe of Los Angeles on Monday, destroying dozens of homes and threatening hundreds more dwellings. Video: LA Fire Officials Try to Get Ahead of Blazes AssociatedPress REGION: Fire alert remains in effect North County Times New York Times - BBC News - AFP - The Associated Press all 3,443 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:27:17 GMT Michigan: Ruling on Voting Rights - New York Times Michigan: Ruling on Voting Rights New York Times - 1 hour ago By AP A judge has ordered state election officials to stop automatically canceling a voter’s registration if the card is returned as undeliverable. Federal judge orders 1438 names restored to Michigan voter rolls Detroit Free Press Judge Says Mich. Policy Violated Voting Law Washington Post Connecticut Post - The Standard - DetNews.com - The Associated Press all 68 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:05:24 GMT Canada's Harper May Face Similar Gridlock After Today's Vote - Bloomberg Voice of America Canada's Harper May Face Similar Gridlock After Today's Vote Bloomberg - 1 hour ago By Theophilos Argitis and Alexandre Deslongchamps Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- When Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called today's election six weeks ago, he complained that opposition calls for more spending were putting the economy at risk, ... Rivals crisscross Canada ahead of elections Los Angeles Times Global turmoil dominates Canada election Financial Times AFP - Voice of America - Crosscut - Aljazeera.net all 951 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:37:49 GMT Excess Drinking Shrinks the Brain - Washington Post Canada.com Excess Drinking Shrinks the Brain Washington Post - 8 hours ago By Amanda Gardner MONDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The more alcohol you drink, the more your brain shrinks, a new study has found. Study: Drinking alcohol associated with smaller brain volume Xinhua Alcohol Consumption Can Shrink Your Brain WCTV Inventorspot - Telegraph.co.uk - MedPage Today - Canada.com all 51 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:09:07 GMT Make Data Feed Websites Amazon Associate Software

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