My writer-friend, Patti Ghezzi, a journalist for
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, had a great cover feature in the
Better Health section of the AJC last week (Wed. 5/28/08),
lots of great ideas for CAMP MOMMY:
To prepare for summer vacation, here are some tips
to keep children away from the TV and off the couch.
By PATTI GHEZZI
for the Journal-Constitution
I hope that link stays active, it's hard to say with
AJC.com.
We are already practicing a lot of the 50 suggestions with CAMP MOMMY, although I will be honest with you: While I have little trouble keeping the kids off the TV between 10am - 4pm and even later, limiting their computer/PlayStation/Wii time to "less than two hours per week," as "some experts" suggest would be nearly impossible. I try to limit it to two hours per day, but then I find myself sitting here at the computer, writing, working, etc. for more than that. I'm just glad the kids are either playing adventure quest-type online games together (
www.Runescape.com) -- one of the few things they actually DO together, cooperatively -- or playing more active video games on the
PlayStation 2 or
Nintendo Wii.
From Patti's article, here are our Five Favorites, including one we already do, and four more we are going to try:
Tip 30 - Set up an obstacle course in the yard and see who can finish the fastest. Enlist your kids to help with the course and be willing to attempt it yourself.
[I'll let you know how this goes when we do it, should be a fun blog entry!]
Tip 34 - On a really hot day, take your kids bowling or roller-skating.
[Which would certainly be more active, and might even cost less than going to a movie.]
Tip 37 - If your kids feel adrift without their technogadgets, try "Dance, Dance, Revolution," one of several fitness-oriented games played on consoles such as PlayStation 2 or Xbox, says Melissa Johnson, executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
[We
love DDR and
Rock Band for the
PlayStation 2. We are anxiously waiting to find in-stock and purchase the new
Wii Fit for the
Nintendo Wii, constantly sold out at
Target since it came out last month.]
Tip 42 - Find a volunteer project that involves exercise, such as cleaning up a park or a riverbank.
Tip 45 - Have your kids earn dessert by doing jumping jacks or push-ups.
[
Love this, Mom & Dad should do this, too -- what a great idea!! ;-)]
Enjoy!