Firstly, forget this idea of 'losing weight' - focus instead on getting your child active and fit; weight loss will follow.
Too much parental pressure put on young children to lose weight may foster eating disorders or an aversion to exercise in the future.
Too many children are sucked in by the TV or sedentary games rather than the active games of the past. So we have to come up with ways to help them get active. The reason some kids have a tough start is two-fold:
1. If their parents don�t exercise or display active lifestyles, they too will follow suit.
2. Some children are awkward. It just isn�t easy to run if it hurts or if you fall all the time. So, these kids tend to prefer to read, watch TV or do crafts � something they can do well.
How do you get these kids active?
* Make exercise like play. Develop an obstacle course. Run around the playground, over logs and through the park.
* Go on a family outing to the beach and play games.
* Go for a walk around the block every night after dinner.
* Put together an in-home exercise course with steps, weights, music and fun.
* Take the trouble to find an activity your child will enjoy. Soccer, swimming, tennis, running, dance...
The idea is to help your kids feel confident about themselves. They can gain confidence by success and the more success they have, the more fun it is and the more they want to do it. Let THEM choose the sport, not you. If your child is awkward, find a sport that doesn�t require much co-ordination. If your child excels in groups, find a team sport like soccer. If your child excels independently, look for a solo activity like swimming.
