Healthy Balance
Whether by social media or Hollywood's influence, feeling the pressures of #thinspiration is a biggie these days for kids. So, as parents, how do you strike the balanceof encouraging them to be healthy without obsessing over their jeans size? Ahead are some tips from Ethel Baumberg—co-founder of FLYAROO Fitness—who teaches health and fitness habits to kids as young as 18 months and educates other adults on how to do the same. Rather than focus on body type, their mission is support kids' aspirations toward becoming fit and strong—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well, says Baumberg.
Choose Positivity
Baumberg's token advice to parents, teachers or any adult who works with kids? Be aware of how you're projecting your beliefs about exercise and healthy eating. Despite whatever kids are exposed to on the Internet or from the media, you're still their No. 1 role model. That said, make sure you're talking about exercise in a positive light. "What I think is the most damaging part of being negative is that kids are absorbing it," says Baumberg. "A parent could say 'I hate going to the gym,' and their child starts to see the gym as a negative activity. Or 'Ugh, I have to diet today.' Kids pick up on that." Instead, Baumberg suggests determining a healthy habit you enjoy and talk it up. It could be about how much you love taking family walks or visiting the farmer's market to pick up your weekly produce.
Body Talk
Similar to how you talk about exercise, notice how you perceive your body as well. Sure, we all have insecurities. But as far as your kids are concerned, focus on how grateful you are for your body and, therefore, how much you want to take care of it. "Instead of saying 'I hate the way I look,' talk about how this is your one body to live in and that you want to be fit and enjoy your life," says Baumberg. When you do that, kids will take notice and want to show their bodies the same respect, she says.
Be Free of Counting Calories
Counting calories may feel like you're impressing healthy habits onto your kids. After all, watching what you eat is an important part of weight maintenance, right? Not quite. Baumberg actually encourages adults not to count calories. In fact, try to nix the concept from your vocabulary entirely. "We never use our name and calories or our name and weight loss in the same sentence, such as 'I want to burn x number of calories' or 'I can only eat a certain number of calories today,'" Baumberg says. Instead, Baumberg suggests teaching your kids about food with an emphasis on the ones that will give them sustained energy, such as fruits, vegetables and proteins.
Food Games
In lieu of analyzing calorie counts on food labels, get in the habit of helping your kids inspect food ingredients. You can even make it a game to find foods that have the least number of ingredients. Take peanut butter for example, says Baumberg. Some peanut butters will have added sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. The kids' goal is to find the peanut butter that's made only with peanuts. "Again, focus on positivity. Instead of saying, 'Don't eat this or that,' explain why it's not healthy and what the alternatives are," says Baumberg. "Do a taste-test with them to see how all-natural foods taste compared to processed foods, which will show them what healthy really means."
MORE: 20 Healthy Snacks
The Family That Plays Together
You can talk about fitness all you want, but unless you're doing it yourself, your kids aren't going to bite. Instead of trekking to the gym by yourself, find ways to get your exercise with your kids. One of FLYAROO's workouts is called "playground fitness," in which the workout is centered on playground equipment. For example, make an obstacle course by setting up various "stations" around the playground where each person has to do as many chin-ups or pull-ups as they can on the monkey bars followed by climbing the rope ladder followed by 20 jumping jacks. Or, think back to the activities you enjoyed most as a kid. Maybe it was doing relay races in the pool or going for nature hikes. You'll be pleasantly surprised how your kids can inspire your best workouts.
Mix It Up
The old adage that "variety is the spice of life" couldn't be truer when bolstering your kids' desire to be fit and strong. And it's important to give kids options to help them find their niche. "We like to have different types of fitness components so kids can try everything out and decide what they enjoy the most,"says Baumberg. This is also an opportunity to help them (and you) get out of their comfort zone. For example, you could venture so far as taking aerial classes (think Cirque du Soleil) or belly dancing classes.
Fitness That Fits
Don't be afraid to encourage kids to try activities that you know will have a supplementary benefit, says Baumberg. For example, if they're having trouble with balance, yoga is a great activity. Or if they struggle with coordination and rhythm, have them experiment with dance. And if your child isn't enjoying a particular activity, give them the option of trying something else instead of allowing them to "quit." In addition to making them strong and fit, you'll also be boosting their self-confidence.
Seek Out Health Curriculums
If you're not the only adult who's educating your children, don't be shy to ask your child's school, daycare or after-school community center about their health and fitness curriculum, says Baumberg. "You should know what your kids are learning and most have a curriculum set up in advance," says Baumberg. If they don't have one in place, ask if they might consider creating one. Or, do some research to see if other childcare institutions in your area focus on health and fitness. Equally important, find out how the instructors approach fitness education. Remember, the goal is to have all adults who work with your kids to communicate fitness and health as positively as possible.
Become an Educator Yourself
If you're unable to find a school or community center that focuses on fitness education and activities, there are tons of resources online to help guide you through safe and fun activities. A good place to start? The President's Challenge. The free, downloadable program will get you and your family started in the right direction.
