Dictionary For Dads

Unlike when many of us parents were children, biking to the school, park or swimming all day at the beach has taken a back seat to internet surfing, watching television or playing video games all day. The roots of these behaviors in enabled many times by parents who are stressed and have used these media mechanisms to get a break from their constant child care duties. However, these behaviors and lack of activity are not healthy for your children and impede on their physical, psychological and social abilities.  Furthermore they can lead to many health related problems even childhood obesity. Parents have the most powerful influence on children because children learn from what they are exposed to.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one to two hours a day of television or other media including the internet which is available on cell phones and iPods. Never put a television or computer in your children's bedrooms if you have the option. Parents should delegate an area of the home as computer or media rooms. It is also the parent’s responsibility to limit the amount of time on the telephone and or text messaging. We recommend all parents visit our Hootie and Otis Media Review Page for info on appropriate games and programming for children.

It is essential for parents to be actively involved in their own physical health in order to teach their children these values. Dictionary for Dads suggests that you develop or maintain a routine of working out at a gym, jogging or at least walking daily to model good physical health to your children. Encourage your children and spouse to join you at the gym or to take an evening bike ride in the community together. Limit the junk food and engage in conversations about the importance and benefits of physical activity. Provide positive reinforcements (praise) and encourage activity to all family members. If one or more members of the family is over weight or obese engage in weight loss goals together and most of all support each other.

Being or becoming a physically fit individual or family starts with the parent/s. This process can be very exciting for everyone in the family. The more fit the members of the family are, the more options for activities will be available. In addition to getting in shape you all will benefit from spending more quality time with each other. Many families have pets that also could benefit from this transition to physical health. We encourage you to include your furry friends when at all possible after all they are part of the family and need exercise and good physical health too.

Many parents justify their lack of physical activity with their family due to the fact their child is on a sports team. This is problematic for the family, parents and child. Dictionary for Dads recognizes the positive aspects of being on a sports or activity team which is great but team sports or school activity is not enough and this does not substitute your role. Parents are responsible for teaching good physical health to their children. In addition, many children are not on sports teams and activities overall at school has decreased in large amounts in recent years. You should encourage and support involvement in team sports. However,team sports or activities at school limits does not allow you a big part in modeling physical health and behavior to your child which is most important. It also does not include siblings or other family members from engaging and exploring physical activities together. Many children also are not interested in team sports but still require physical activity and health.

If your child is more arts and crafts based and likes to draw or build things then take them on a hike in the woods to explore or through a city to inspect structures or museums to gain inspiration. Many times you as a parent will need to put aside your expectations or choices of activity to explore what interests your child. Basically any activity or hobby your child enjoys can be expanded upon with your involvement and inclusion of physical activity. It is the parent’s job to learn what inspires their child and to set the structure and consistency of physical activity.

• Plan Activity Weekends. For your child's next graduation or birthday, schedule a hiking and camping party, take the kids to a climbing wall or set up swimming relay races in the backyard or local pool.

• Include and Support Your Child's Activity Choices. Let each child take a turn choosing the activity of the day. Swimming, Jogging, Hand Ball, Batting Cages, Bowling, Tennis etc... What matters is that you're doing something active together. If you do not want to get involved it tells the child you do not see it as important.

• Give the gift of health. Provide your child gifts and rewards that include activity-related equipment, games or outings. Do not give baseball tickets; give them an hour a week of tennis with you