13 Ways Parents Can Help Children Be More Physically Active

Paul Rosengard

James Sallis

Thomas McKenzie

As physical educators, we are aware of the importance of good communication with the parents of our students. Soliciting parental support of our programs is an appropriate practice, and it may be one of the keys to our survival.

Distributing materials that report on student progress (e.g., report cards) and on the scope of our offerings (e.g., family nights, newsletters) are only two pieces of the parental involvement puzzle. As physical educators, we also can be communicating to parents about the need for continued student engagement in physical activity outside of school as part of a healthy lifestyle. These efforts are all in addition to providing high quality and active physical education classes.

It's difficult for many students to accumulate at least 30 minutes a day of movement as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control. Often, our own physical education classes are not active enough (or do not meet often enough) to achieve this goal. Furthermore, if children choose not to participate in optional movement activities - assuming they are even offered - before school, during recess or lunch, after school, and on weekends, the students may be increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease and other health problems.

We have written, 13 Ways Parents Can Help Children Be More Physically Active, to be photocopied and distributed to the parents of your students (see Table 1 on next page). The list provides specific, effective strategies to encourage movement outside of physical education classes. Most cost nothing; however, many of the strategies require some personal commitment from parents. We need to convince parents that their children's health and well-being are worth the time and effort.

It's not easy for children to bridge the gap between physical education classes and a healthy lifestyle away from school. However, through improved parental education, communication, and support, we may cross the bridge together.

Table 1. 13 Ways Parents Can Help Children Be More Physically Active

For optimal health, children should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity (e.g., brisk walking) every day and do vigorous sports or exercise 3 times a week.

1. Frequently ask your child what physical activities he/she likes to do, then help them do it!
2. Be a role model. Show Children that physical activity is important by enthusiastically participating in it!
3. Participate with your child (e.g., play catch, chop firewood, go on walks together).
4. Encourage your child to participate on sports teams (e.g., Bobby Sox, Little League, basketball).
5. Plan family events, including weekend getaways and vacations, that include physical activity (e.g., hiking, water sports, skiing).
6. Enroll your child in out-of-school physical activity lessons (e.g., martial arts, dance, swimming, gymnastics).
7. Trasport your child to places where she/he can move and play safely.
8. Monitor television viewing and video game play. Have your child "earn" time for these "low voltage" activities by accumulating minutes of physical activity.
9. Select gifts that promote physical activity (e.g., a ball, a jump rope, a pair of in-line skates).
10. Write and speak with school administrators showing your support for quality physical education programs.
11. Encourage school officials to provide opportunities for students to be physically active before school, during lunch breaks, and after school.
12. Encourage school officials to offer assemblies, field trips, and special events that promote physical activity.
13. Advocate the development of neighborhood parks, biking paths, and walking trails in your community.

Paul Rosengard is the executive director of SPARK Physical Education, 6363 Alvarado Ct., Ste. 250, San Diego, CA 92120, e-mail (rosengar@mail.sdsu.edu). James Sallis and Thomas McKenzie are professors as Sand Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado Ct., Ste. 103, San Diego, CA 92109, e-mail (sallis@mail.sdsu.edu) and (tmckenzie@sdsu.edu), respectively.

_________________________________________________________

Title:	13 ways parents can help children be more physically active.
Author:	Rosengard, P., Sallis, J., McKenzie, T.
Source:	Strategies (Reston, Va.)
Publisher:
Volume (Issue):	11(2)
Date:	Nov/Dec 1997
Pages:	25-26
SIRC Article #:	449815

 

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