My kids have led active lives all their lives. The Pea started ballet at age 3, and 10 years later, she's on a competitive dance team, taking multiple dance classes 4 days out of 7. 3Po and Jammy are crazy about soccer; they practice 3 days a week and spend their weekends playing league games and tournaments. They walk and bike to school. We walk downtown on the weekends and take them sailing or hiking now and then.
It's so tempting to feel superior and wonder why other kids don't get as much activity -- but different families lead different lifestyles, and getting physical activity can be difficult. I should know: my childhood was nothing like my kids'. I led a very sedentary lifestyle as a child. I was driven everywhere, and although my parents put me in ballet and gymnastics classes, I never really liked them, so I never put in more than a bare minimum effort. It wasn't until my early teens that I fell in love with volleyball and jazz dance, and in my early twenties that I started running. So I know how challenging it can be to get into the habit of being active.
To help encourage parents to get up and get active, Leapfrog teamed up with soccer star Mia Hamm this weekend at the first National Fit Made Fun Day in Santa Monica, where families gathered to help set 3 Guiness World Records: most kids making snow angels, most people hopping on one foot, and most people doing a swim dance. Leapfrog also launched their new kids' activity tracker, the LeapBand™, a new which records kids' movements and combines screen time with physical games and activities. I had the privilege of interviewing Mia by phone a few days ago, where she told us all about Fit Made Fun Day:
- Keep it simple, not too many rules because kids will tune out
- Make it part of a daily routine (bedtime dance party to get the wiggles out)
- Invite friends and family to be a part of it
- Make physical activities a part of family gathering and events (football, wiffle ball game)
- Celebrate physical achievements - go to different parks, go ice skating
- Show kids that you appreciate having fun together
Win a LeapBand Activity Tracker
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Leave a comment on this post and share a tip for building active habits in your children.
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See @bonggafinds interview Mia Hamm & enter to win a LeapBand activity tracker fr @Leapfrog! Enter by 8/24 http://ow.ly/BmAhn
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Disclosure: Leapfrog provided the interview opportunity, a LeapBand sample for review, and two LeapBands to give away. The views and opinions expressed here are my own. Tweet this!
112 Comments, Leave yours here:
I like taking them to the park and going for walks in the wooded area and exploring and they seem to enjoy that
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9/11 https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/510256440930758656
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gfc follower: tabathia
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entered room on the broom dvd giveaway
I encourage my children to be active by leading by example
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I get my kids to exercise by asking them to. It might be an inside video game, or a boxing lesson, or running around outside.
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I entered the Room on the Broom DVD giveaway
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making healthy choices everyday
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I encourage my children to go out side daily, even if it's for 20-30 minutes
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By setting a good example through exercise and playing with them (littlesillysally at gmail dot com)
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I entered the K'NEX Giveaway.
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Our kids always had to either participate in a sport, whether school-related or not, or do some other exercise while they were growing up. I think it is so important, not only for their growing bodies, but also for their self-esteem and developing brains.
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I entered the Snuggle giveaway.
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I entered the Room on the Broom giveaway!
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I entered the K'NEX giveaway!
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Get out there and play with them. If you're willing they'll always go and play with you. You are the best encouragement.
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I'm entered in to the Snuggle giveaway
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I encourage them to go outside and play every day after school.
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I follow you on blogger as degood
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I follow you on pinterest as degood.
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I entered the room on the broom giveaway.
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I entered the supermario knex giveaway.
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I entered the snuggle giveaway.
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my best tip is just to do something active each day to get in a good routine
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We try to do daily walks, If the weather isn't nice we put on some good music and dance around the house.
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9/22 https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/514230581786607617
Going on walks with them
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i like to bring them to the park to play on the weekends so they can be outside and active.
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My daughters are very active! They have to ask permission to watch tv, be on the computer and/or ipod/ipads. I allow about an 1 hour max each day. Otherwise they need to be playing outside or find something to do inside.
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Congratulations to the winner: #101, Amanda Whitley!
Congratulations to the second winner: #63, degood!
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