| One out of five American kids is obese and the | | | | family.- Ride a scooter or roller blade in an empty |
| numbers keep going up. Lack of exercise is one | | | | garage.- Take 1,000 steps inside the house and track |
| reason for the obesity epidemic and it's a true | | | | these steps with a pedometer.- Exercise in the school |
| epidemic that threatens health. In fact, this may be the | | | | gym on weekends. (Get permission first.)- Walk the |
| first generation of kids in history not to outlive their | | | | indoor skyway system if your city or town has |
| parents because of obesity.Kids can play outside | | | | one.These are just a few ideas. If you brainstorm with |
| when the weather is good. What can they do when | | | | your kids you'll probably come up with more. Your kids |
| the weather is bad? Exercise is one way to combat | | | | might want to start a Moovin' and Groovin' Club. Now |
| the obesity epidemic and these indoor activities wll | | | | that would be cool.Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. |
| keep your kids moovin' and groovin'. Your kids could:- | | | | To learn more about her work go to Hodgson has |
| Walk up and down stairs 10 times in a row.- Dance to | | | | been a nonfiction writer for 26 years. Her recent work |
| music with their friends.- Draw a hopscotch box with | | | | focuses on health and she is a member of the |
| chalk on the garage floor and play with brothers, | | | | Association of Healh Care Journalists. She has written |
| sisters, friends, even their parents.- Walk every aisle in | | | | two health books for kids in grades 3-5, Food Label |
| the grocery store.- Jump rope in the garage.- Ride a | | | | Detective and Catching the Exercise Thief. Both |
| stationery bike if you have one.- Go for an inside walk | | | | activity books were published by Minnesota Medical |
| at a mall. Your kids should go around twice if they | | | | Association Alliance. A member of Mayo Clinic's |
| can.- Do jumping jacks in the basement.- Become | | | | Action on Obesity Task Force, Hodgson has |
| stretching champs. They could touch their toes without | | | | presented at two obesity summits and continues to |
| bending their knees, bend one leg backwards and hold | | | | write health resources for kids. Her 24th book, Smiling |
| their foot with their hand, or twist from side to side | | | | Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief, co-authored |
| without moving their feet.- Play ping pong with the | | | | with Lois Krahn, MD, is available on amazon. |