It’s never too early to teach kids that exercise is good for your heart. Physical activity increases life expectancy, decreases risk of heart disease and helps control weight – for kids and adults.
So how do you add activity to a busy life? First, don’t think of it as something else that has to be scheduled. Just get up and go!
“The biggest thing we see today is that kids aren’t moving,” says Amber Natale, director of The Lab Fitness + Spa, at the Health and Wellness Center by Doylestown Hospital in Warrington. “They come home from school and sit at the computer or watch TV.”
The American Heart Association says children aged two and older should participate in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity daily.
Try these ideas to get your family moving:
The Lab Fitness center offers a Kid Fit class for 8- to 12-year-olds, and family swimming that lets kids and parents exercise together.
The best model and motivator for your kids is you. If you make healthy lifestyle choices, they will follow.
