Jump Into Healthy Living

1. Be a role model!  Show children how being active is fun and makes you feel good.
2. Move with your kids!  Instead of just watching soccer practice, walk up & down the sidelines.  Join a karate class together.  Rather than watch your child at the playground, swing, slide and climb with your child.
3. Encourage your child to be a participant rather than an observer.  Encourage them to play T-ball or to shoot baskets rather than watching folks do it on TV.
4. Plan family events that include activity.  Go for a walk, hike or bike ride rather than rent a movie.
5. If you aren’t comfortable allowing your child to play in your neighborhood, transport your kids to a safer place to play.
6. Monitor TV and “screen time”.  Limit your child to 2 hours/day or less.  Have your child “earn” time for these “lower voltage” activities by accumulating minutes of activity.
7. For birthdays and holidays give gifts that promote an active lifestyle—bikes, balls, jump ropes and skates are great choices.
8. When you drive somewhere, park a few blocks away and walk with your kids to your destination.
9. Teach your kids to take the stairs rather than the elevator.
10. Encourage your children to walk or bike when they go to school, run errands or visit classmates.
11. When watching your favorite family TV shows, get up and walk around or take a stretch break with every commercial.
12. Avoid drive thrus.  Park your car and walk in
13. Try musical housework.  Put on your family’s favorite tunes and dance while you vacuum or dust!
14. Encourage family members to stretch or walk while you talk on the phone
15. Encourage you children’s school to offer daily physical activity.  Schools that do this notice children learn better when they have physical activity built into their day.
16. Encourage your children’s school to offer quality physical education programs that teach students skills that will keep them active throughout their lifetime.
17. Encourage the school officials at your child’s school to offer assemblies, field trips, special events and clubs that promote and provide opportunities for physical activity.
18. Talk with local policy makers about the need for sidewalks and bike lanes in your town to make it safe for residents to go places by foot or bike.
19. Talk with local, state and federal policymakers to encourage the development of neighborhood parks, biking paths & walking trails in your community.
20. Every time you hear a bell ring (phone, doorbell, church bell) take a breath & smile.  Think of smiling as “mouth yoga”—an activity that relaxes hundreds of muscles in your face.  The great thing about this “exercise” is it’s contagious—so pass it on.