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