Exercise: How To Keep Your Kids Moovin and Groovin

One out of five American kids is obese and the numbers keep going up. Lack of exercise is one reason for the obesity epidemic and it's a true epidemic that threatens health. In fact, this may be the first generation of kids in history not to outlive their parents because of obesity.

Kids can play outside when the weather is good. What can they do when the weather is bad? Exercise is one way to combat the obesity epidemic and these indoor activities wll keep your kids moovin' and groovin'. Your kids could:

- Walk up and down stairs 10 times in a row.

- Dance to music with their friends.

- Draw a hopscotch box with chalk on the garage floor and play with brothers, sisters, friends, even their parents.

- Walk every aisle in the grocery store.

- Jump rope in the garage.

- Ride a stationery bike if you have one.

- Go for an inside walk at a mall. Your kids should go around twice if they can.

- Do jumping jacks in the basement.

- Become stretching champs. They could touch their toes without bending their knees, bend one leg backwards and hold their foot with their hand, or twist from side to side without moving their feet.

- Play ping pong with the family.

- Ride a scooter or roller blade in an empty garage.

- Take 1,000 steps inside the house and track these steps with a pedometer.

- Exercise in the school gym on weekends. (Get permission first.)

- Walk the indoor skyway system if your city or town has one.

These are just a few ideas. If you brainstorm with your kids you'll probably come up with more. Your kids might want to start a Moovin' and Groovin' Club. Now that would be cool.

Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. To learn more about her work go to www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 26 years. Her recent work focuses on health and she is a member of the Association of Healh Care Journalists. She has written two health books for kids in grades 3-5, Food Label Detective and Catching the Exercise Thief. Both activity books were published by Minnesota Medical Association Alliance. A member of Mayo Clinic's Action on Obesity Task Force, Hodgson has presented at two obesity summits and continues to write health resources for kids. Her 24th book, Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief, co-authored with Lois Krahn, MD, is available on amazon.com

---

Google News Updated : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:07:30 GMT 'Wrestler' brings Venice fest to its feet - Hollywood Reporter Hollywood Reporter 'Wrestler' brings Venice fest to its feet Hollywood Reporter - 52 minutes ago By Eric J. Lyman VENICE -- "The Wrestler" was the toast of the Lido on the Venice Film Festival's penultimate day, with star Mickey Rourke's interpretation of an aging wrestler struggling to come to terms with the end of his career creating a buzz that ... 'The Wrestler' wins Venice Film Fest top award The Associated Press Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler. TIME Bloomberg - Reuters - Monsters and Critics.com - Los Angeles Times all 327 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:14:35 GMT "Bangkok" a skillful action excursion - Reuters E! Online "Bangkok" a skillful action excursion Reuters - 15 hours ago By Stephen Farber LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Everything is relative in the realm of hyperviolent movies, and compared to this summer's other assassination thriller, "Wanted," "Bangkok Dangerous" is a model of restraint and moral rectitude. 'Dangerous' prosperous at box office Variety An Assassin Arrives to Turn Off the Lights New York Times Boston Herald - Boston Globe - Roanoke Times - Buffalo News all 251 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:41:52 GMT Buckeyes survive Ohio's threat, 26-14 - The Associated Press The Associated Press Buckeyes survive Ohio's threat, 26-14 The Associated Press - 35 minutes ago COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Beanie Wells didn't play. The Ohio Bobcats sure did. Lightly regarded even in the Mid-American Conference, Ohio put a scare into No. Ohio State Football: OSU 26, OU 14 The Plain Dealer - cleveland.com Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg ESPN USA Today - Columbus Dispatch - Chillicothe Gazette - SBR Forum all 172 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:31:47 GMT Obama, McCain to Honor Victims of 9/11 Together - Voice of America ABC News Obama, McCain to Honor Victims of 9/11 Together Voice of America - 1 hour ago By VOA News US presidential candidates Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain have agreed to appear together on September 11, the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Conventions, Anything but Dull, Are a TV Hit New York Times Comment by John S. Baick Professor of History, Western New England College Newsday - CNN - Argus Press - Bloomberg all 4,236 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:01:14 GMT McCain, Obama battle over economy, leadership - AFP Telegraph.co.uk McCain, Obama battle over economy, leadership AFP - 51 minutes ago COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AFP) - Economic issues dominated the campaign trail Saturday as presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain battled over who could best lead the nation in troubled times. Reuters Politics Summary Washington Post Barack Obama, John McCain say they hate meddlers ... but both ... Los Angeles Times Intellectual Conservative - WGN - Financial Times all 650 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:15:37 GMT Boeing Machinists Take To Picket Line After Talks Collapse - CNNMoney.com Washington Post Boeing Machinists Take To Picket Line After Talks Collapse CNNMoney.com - 1 hour ago NEW YORK (AFP)-- Boeing machinists took to the picket line on Saturday as they launched a strike that has halted production and could cost the US aerospace giant more than $100 million per day. Low strike pay could limit length of Boeing work stoppage BloggingStocks Boeing machinists walk off the job MarketWatch Wall Street Journal - New York Times - AHN - Reuters all 2,440 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:46:08 GMT Journals week in review: news from One Microsoft Way - Ars Technica Washington Post Journals week in review: news from One Microsoft Way Ars Technica - 1 hour ago By Emil Protalinski | Published: September 06, 2008 - 01:15PM CT First Gates-Seinfeld ad leaves us scratching our heads. The first Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates ad has arrived. Seinfeld ads only part of Microsoft push United Press International Windows Vista: The OS About Nothing InformationWeek New York Times - Slashdot - Apple Insider - CRN all 499 news articles Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:27:03 GMT RSS For Web Pages Increase Web Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Lance Armstrong, Exercise, and Will Power? Characteristics that Make a Champion!

The Tour De France, arguably may be the hardest sport... Read More

Exercise And Stress

"Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize... Read More

10 User Friendly Habits for Successful Home Gym Training

Are you dissatisfied with your current training program? Are you... Read More

How to Supercharge Your Energy Levels through Exercise

Your energy levels will depend on several factors, including genetics,... Read More

The Science of Carbohydrate Loading

A valid connection between hypoglycemia, fatigue and premature termination of... Read More

Elements of Exercise

Warm upWarming up before exercising has physiological and psychological benefits.... Read More

The Two Greatest Myths About Abdominal Exercises

If you have ever read a fitness magazine...If you have... Read More

STRETCHING; Why Should I?

This short article looks at some of the tips, tricks... Read More

Arthritis Exercise ? One Way to Relieve Pain & Stiffness in Your Joints (part 3)

There are three main types of exercises to include in... Read More

Home Gym Workout Routines

Home gym workout routines can take the hassle out of... Read More

Will Your Personal Trainer Help You Achieve Your Goals?

Hiring a personal trainer can be a significant investment ?... Read More

Metabolism: How to Increase Your Metabolic Rate?

Metabolism is a process by which the body burns the... Read More

2-Minute Fitness

Why would I want to write about yet another fitness... Read More

The History of Pilates ? It All Began With One Sickly Child

A look into the history of Pilates helps you understand... Read More

A Great Way To Spice Up Your Workouts -- Interval Training

There's been a lot of buzz recently about Interval Training.... Read More

Struggling To Keep Your Workout Schedule? So am I!

Sometimes following a fitness program or workout schedule is not... Read More

Some Great Ideas on Staying Fit

Physical exercise is something that you need to do on... Read More

Sets And Reps - The High And Low Weight Workout

Big weights! Wicked pump! I always get caught between two... Read More

Mixing Things Up

To say that the human body is an amazing machine... Read More

Lance Armstrong?s Training Tactics ? The Tortoise or the Hare?

I have been counseling people on weight loss, exercise efficiency... Read More

How To Get Started With Exercise: The Magic Pill Of Your Weight Loss Program

In a previous article, I mentioned the weight loss mantra... Read More

Take a Break

Writing is a strenuous creative activity, and like physical activity... Read More

Lance Armstrongs Training Tactics: #1 Rule - Greatness Needs NO Explanation!

Great endurance racers will tell you "Leave your egos at... Read More

Exercising - Ways of staying motivated!

The number one reason people say they do not exercise... Read More

Success Versus Failure in the Exercise Department

Success is what you are prepared to make of yourself... Read More