| One out of five American kids is obese and the | | | | roller blade in an empty garage.- Take 1,000 steps |
| numbers keep going up. Lack of exercise is one | | | | inside the house and track these steps with a |
| reason for the obesity epidemic and it's a true | | | | pedometer.- Exercise in the school gym on |
| epidemic that threatens health. In fact, this may be | | | | weekends. (Get permission first.)- Walk the indoor |
| the first generation of kids in history not to outlive | | | | skyway system if your city or town has one.These |
| their parents because of obesity.Kids can play outside | | | | are just a few ideas. If you brainstorm with your kids |
| when the weather is good. What can they do when | | | | you'll probably come up with more. Your kids might |
| the weather is bad? Exercise is one way to combat | | | | want to start a Moovin' and Groovin' Club. Now that |
| the obesity epidemic and these indoor activities wll | | | | would be cool.Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. To |
| keep your kids moovin' and groovin'. Your kids could:- | | | | learn more about her work go to Hodgson has been |
| Walk up and down stairs 10 times in a row.- Dance to | | | | a nonfiction writer for 26 years. Her recent work |
| music with their friends.- Draw a hopscotch box with | | | | focuses on health and she is a member of the |
| chalk on the garage floor and play with brothers, | | | | Association of Healh Care Journalists. She has written |
| sisters, friends, even their parents.- Walk every aisle | | | | two health books for kids in grades 3-5, Food Label |
| in the grocery store.- Jump rope in the garage.- Ride | | | | Detective and Catching the Exercise Thief. Both |
| a stationery bike if you have one.- Go for an inside | | | | activity books were published by Minnesota Medical |
| walk at a mall. Your kids should go around twice if | | | | Association Alliance. A member of Mayo Clinic's Action |
| they can.- Do jumping jacks in the basement.- | | | | on Obesity Task Force, Hodgson has presented at |
| Become stretching champs. They could touch their | | | | two obesity summits and continues to write health |
| toes without bending their knees, bend one leg | | | | resources for kids. Her 24th book, Smiling Through |
| backwards and hold their foot with their hand, or | | | | Your Tears: Anticipating Grief, co-authored with Lois |
| twist from side to side without moving their feet.- | | | | Krahn, MD, is available on amazon. |
| Play ping pong with the family.- Ride a scooter or | | | | |