How to Lose Weight Easily for Kids

There are more sedentary activities for kids today than ever before, with children-specific TV channels, movies available on demand, hand-held video games and countless computer programs. As a result, more and more kids are becoming overweight. Although it will take dedication and lifestyle changes, parents can become great role models for their kids and set an example of being healthy and active. The key is to make physical activity fun for all kids. Make family time every week and do something physical together. Grownups are the best example, always remember that.

Things You'll Need

• • Wii • Swing set • Bicycles • Fresh fruit, vegetables and other healthful snacks • Jump ropes, basketballs, kickballs and other outdoor toys

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Instructions

Ways to Help Kids Get in Shape

• 1

  Exercise inside while having fun. Invest in a game system like the Wii with the Wii Fit or Dance Dance Revolution games. Your kids will be playing video games and doing physical activity at the same time. Increasing your physical activity and getting your heart rate up is all that is needed to start burning calories. So by switching a sedentary video game with a video game that makes you move and gets your heart rate up is a great way to make getting in shape fun for kids.

• 2

  Make outside exercise a family routine. Take a weekly bike ride. Find a trail or path and go to it regularly. Each time go farther. Eventually, you can have races and tournaments. Or find a hiking trail that is fun but challenging. Have each kid pack an apple, homemade trail mix and water bottle into a small backpack that they can carry during the hike. While hiking, they can snack on their treats and the weight from the backpacks will add to the physical activity. For daily exercise, go for a family walk after dinner.

• 3

  Stock your house with healthful foods. Keep fresh fruit and vegetables in the house. Celery with peanut butter is great snack, as well as apples with a little cinnamon and sugar to dip them in. By limiting the snack options, your kids will start to build a more healthy way to eat. Cookies, chips and candy do not have to be eliminated from their diet. There are options like 100-calorie snack packs. You can even do homemade sweet treats, just watch portion sizes. Also, for every meal, include at least two servings of fruits or vegetables.

• 4

  Keep outdoor toys available for your kids at all times. Install a swing set that has activities that will interest your kids; specifically, if they are older put in a rock climbing wall and monkey bars. For the summer, keep sprinklers and water balloons or water guns around and start water wars. Other activities include a basketball horse tournament or a jump-roping contest. There are many jump-rope songs available online. And in the winter, keep sleds around and go to big hills for sledding. Climbing those hills will be a great physical activity. Or in the backyard play old standbys like tag---running in the snow is much more difficult than running in the grass.