Families That Play Together
If being physically active was all it took to keep tweens and teens happy and out of trouble, we'd be tempted to tether our kids to the treadmill. However, we'd have to hop on with them.
Whether it's walking the dog or playing badminton in the backyard, research suggests that joining your kids in activities of their choice not only makes you both healthier, it also boosts their self-esteem. A nationwide survey found that when kids enjoy a variety of activity options -- and their parents play a role -- they are less likely to smoke, drink, skip school, have sex, or use drugs, compared to sedentary 7th- to 12th-graders who watch a lot of TV.
Encourage your children to participate in activities that interest them -- the more varied their options, the better. Even skateboarding is linked to a lower rate of problematic behaviors.
University of Minnesota researchers looked at seven different physical activity/parental involvement patterns among teenagers to determine which combinations were linked to which risky behaviors. Every kind of exercise helped, from organized sports to dance classes. But any activity that involved parents -- even if it was simply strict control of the TV -- had the most positive impact.
