Active Parents Beget Active Kids

Why don’t kids exercise?

Possibly because they see mom and dad not exercise. But now that spring is here, the time is right for everyone to get out.

Going out as a family demonstrates to kids that parents think exercise is important, and kids learn by example, said Dr. Lyle J. Micheli of Boston. What’s more, it helps the parents, too, he said.

Research shows that moderate activity can improve a person’s health, if the activity is regular. That means exercise that’s within the ability of a child also can do some good for an adult, Micheli said.

The key is to start slowly.

“You can’t imagine the number of injuries we see from people who charge out and go from no miles a week to 10 miles a week,” he said.

Avoid overuse injuries like tennis elbow and runners’ shin splints.

Micheli recommends alternating a day with 20 or 30 minutes of exercise with a day of rest, and gradually filling in at least some of the rest days. Kids may not be able to go for a half hour of straight exercise, because it’s normal for them to work intermittently.

Pick things everyone can do - walking, riding bikes, skating - with a goal that will hold kids’ interest, like a treat at the end.

The important thing is to keep the activity fun for everyone. Families that can keep an exercise program going gain benefits beyond the physical, Micheli said.