Throughout our series, we'll be offering simple suggestions for how families, schools, communities and businesses can help kids be healthy. We hope you'll find an idea you can commit to, and sign up on our "Join Us" pledge to be part of this community-wide effort. Here's our first list of ideas:
For families:
• Look for ways to become your own transportation. Can you walk to errands - the library, a friend's house, a park?
• Don't be afraid to assign children physical chores. Washing windows, helping with lawn care and toting laundry all build strength and flexibility.
• Experts say to forget the words fitness and exercise, and concentrate on simply being more physically active.
For schools:
• Add one healthy choice to any school function where you serve food. (Hint: Fresh fruit's the easiest.)
• We know discipline's hard, but don't use food as behavioral incentives.
• Make incorporating movement a goal in every elementary classroom. Even 10 minutes a day helps, and kids like it.
• Can parents start and maintain an after-school walking or running program? Schools are some of the safest places kids can exercise.
For businesses:
• Hey, restaurants! How about devoting one night per week to family diners and trying out healthy kid menus?
• For a small cost, companies can underwrite a walking course at a school and provide a great opportunity for fitness.
• Sponsor a kids' team.
For communities:
• Build physical activity into every community event - festivals, art shows, holiday events.
• Consider bicycle paths in any new road development projects. Then put in bicycle racks so people can park.
• Sidewalks keep kids safe. Make them a priority.
For policymakers:
• Hold forums on maximizing opportunities for physical activity in your community. People know what they need and would use.
• Expand nutrition education and physical fitness training in schools.
• Create a reliable, extensive databank on children's health indicators.
