Getting Kids Moving Can Be A Slam Dunk

Run, walk, jump, dance-do whatever it takes to get thedown stairs.
whole family moving.• Get kids interested in playing sports. Take
That's the advice parents are getting as the weight ofthem to games, if possible. You can also use
the nation's children continues to climb.entertaining movies such as "Like Mike 2: Streetball," in
According to the Mayo Clinic, the rate of obesity in thewhich legendary, magical high-tops find their way into
U.S. has more than doubled for preschoolers andthe eager young hands of a pint-size basketballer with
adolescents, and it has more than tripled for childrena big ambition: to rise to the top of the fast, gritty,
ages 6 to 11 in the past 30 years.no-holds-barred world of high-stakes "Streetball."
Fortunately, you don't need to get your child a personalIn this DVD, hoop dreams become a reality, as Jerome
trainer. Here are some tips to help:Jenkins Jr., or "Triple-J," earns the respect of his friends
• Be a good example. Take a walk. Go for awhen the mysterious sneakers make him drive and
swim. Sign up for a class.dunk like the legendary Air Jordan. With hot streetball
• Instead of always relying on the car, takeaction and comedy, it's a feel-good movie that can get
walks with the kids, ride bikes.kids moving.
• Take the kids to the park .• Be sure to keep an open mind if your
• Celebrate birthdays at parks, water parks,daughter wants to play ice hockey and your son
skating rinks and other active places.prefers dance.
• On weekends and during vacations, introduceChildren should do at least 30 minutes of exercise a
kids to fun activities. Go swimming, hiking, ride bikes,day and 60 minutes if they want to lose weight.
jump rope, play tag, kickball, catch, any activity thatRegular exercise can help improve the quality of your
involves motion.children's lives now and later on. It can help prevent
• If it's raining outside, orga-nize a treasure huntdiseases such as heart disease, cancer, high blood
in the house, one that involves lots of running up andpressure and diabetes.