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The Healthy Lifestyle Wars
4 Steps to Convincing Your Child That Fitness Is Fun
By Mark Stackpole
Through video games, television programs and the Internet, today's youth have a seemingly endless supply of action and adventure at their fingertips. They can travel the world, fight super villains and score touchdowns without ever leaving the comfort of their couch or being out of reach of their soda and snacks.
If a child only experiences the world through a TV or computer screen, those fingertips (and thumbs, for the video gamers) will be the only things getting any exercise at all. With so many electronic and sugary temptations around, how can a parent convince a kid that a healthy lifestyle not only is possible, but can be fun as well?
"Creativity and fitness both begin at home with the family," says Debbie Mandel, fitness and stress management expert. Mandel believes that "both creativity and fitness get rid of stress and generate self-esteem and positivism. Combining them together is synergistic – mind and body work together as a whole unit."
Given the rapid pace of modern life, it can be hard for busy parents to live and model the kind of lifestyle that will lead to healthier habits for their kids. When the weather is nice, trips to the park, bike riding and walks are all fairly straightforward ways to get big (and little) hearts pumping. Don't be afraid, though, to tap into more creative ways to get the family moving. "Nothing deadens the heart like routine," Mandel says. "We all need to be stimulated. Children are creative souls and love to express themselves. Adults need to step outside the box to shed stress, increase health and feel happier."
