Newsletter: September 2006

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Five Ways to Get Kids to Exercise:

The easiest way to get the kids out the door is to turn off any device that plugs into your kid’s brain. “Over the past two decades, the percentage of overweight children has doubled and sedentary behaviors such as watching television and playing video games have become a part of everyday life.” (Family Community Health 2002; 25:10.) To make matters worse, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that a significant portion of children’s daily caloric intake is consumed while watching television. I can guarantee you that the majority of calories consumed during unsupervised television viewing come from pure junk food.

2. Set a Good Example:

Instead of sending your kids outside to play go with them! Set a good example. Initiate family bike rides or walks in the park as often as schedules will allow. The best opportunity to get your family to exercise is right after dinner! Try it and you will all have fun!

3. Little Kids Need Exercise Too:

According to the National Association for sport and physical activity, simple but targeted activities are recommended for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Each day, toddlers should have at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity and pre-schoolers should have at least an hour. Examples for toddlers include follow-along songs or chasing a ball; and for older children, balancing games or tumbling. (Child Health Alert2002:2) “Exercise should be a routine part of daily life and parents should join in, not just sit on the sidelines and watch their children romp.”

4. Get Your Kids Involved in Sports:

One of the best things my dad ever did for me was to sign me up for football. It is amazing to me that by the age of 10, I had already decided that I was too small and not good enough to play football. Dad thought otherwise and he was right. I just loved to play that game and I played until I was 18 years old. Being involved in sports is a great way for your children to get in shape, build confidence, make new friends and have fun. I recently had the privilege of getting a gleeful phone call from my girlfriend’s 11 year old son, Taylor. He was so excited and happy to hear that he had been chosen to be on our district’s “rep” soccer team. Becoming involved in your kids’ activities has just as many benefits for the parents! The key is to encourage but not force your child’s participation in sports. Try exposing them to a number of different sports and activities and then allow them to choose the one that interests them the most.

5. Girls Should Play as Much as Boys:

By the age of six, girls already exercise less than boys. There is absolutely no physiological reason for this to happen according to Neil Armstrong of the Children’s Health and Exercise Research Center at the University of Exeter, Great Britain. He feels parents should encourage girls to enjoy the same level of physical activity and sports as the boys. If we are truly living in an age of equality and equal opportunity, let’s start with the children. It is important not to distinguish between girl games and boy games especially when it comes to exercise. Girls should be allowed and encouraged to learn how to throw a baseball, play hockey and perform traditional male household duties such as washing the car and cleaning out the garage.

6. The Family that Plays Together Stays Together:

Many of my most cherished moments in life have been physical activities involving the whole family. I am not talking about the big competitive sports match either. My mom, dad, sister and I still laugh hysterically when we talk about the Smith family dart game at Uncle Dick’s cabana. I feel that many strong and enduring emotional bonds come through the joy of playing together as a family. I have had many great teachers throughout my life including those much older and much younger than me. When I was in elementary school I was in tears one night because I could not do a simple forward somersault that they taught us in school. Let me tell you that my dad changed my world of crying and tears into laughter and joy by teaching me how to do a somersault in five minutes. Another special moment for me was watching Taylor sink his first ball in the basketball hoop at age eight. He must have taken a hundred shots before he finally got it in the hoop. I sincerely believe that the family that plays together stays together!

OFFICE OFFERINGS:

Free!!! Two-Week Free Trial certificates for the Fitness Connection in our office. (No more excuses!)

FREE!!!! At our office -- Pocket or pouch-sized pamphlets on simple pre-golf stretches.

* FREE!!! Come in or call the office to get: "The Chiropractic Consumer's Report" a booklet that tells us what we need to know before and about choosing a Doctor of Chiropractic.

* FREE!!! The Fitness Prescription DVD: The DVD that Dr. Larry has produced is available at the office. Come in and get your copy of "The Fitness Prescription" or you may download it from our website home page

+ ONLY AT OUR OFFICE - Dr. Larry is certified in the Graston Technique and for the past two years has been having remarkable success in treating soft tissue injuries that have not responded to other therapies. Do you or someone you know suffer from soft-tissue injury? Tendonitis, carpal-tunnel, bursitis, plantar fasciitis? Many, many of our patients have had amazing results with the Graston Technique® designed especially for soft-tissue damage and used by many sports teams including the Olympics. Check out the information about GT on our website by clicking here. Call today for a consultation.

* LENDING LIBRARY - You are welcome to take out on loan from our library the sports medicine book that Dr. Larry co-authored "Inside The Minds: The Art and Science of Sports Medicine". We also have a variety of other books, cd's, and DVD's available for loan.

OFFICE REQUESTS:

Contact the office:
Dr. Larry Smith D.C., B.P.E.
Chiropractor

P.O. Box 307
255 Island Highway
Parksville, British Columbia
Canada V9P 2G5