10,000 Steps and a Pedometer Can Improve Your Kid’s Health

TV
and endless snack times can really put a damper on your kids' health.
One day you have a slender toddler running around and the next thing
you know, you have a tub of lard on the couch. You need to get your
kid's up and exercising.

One way I have discovered to keep kids interested in fitness is the use
of a pedometer. A pedometer is a device that tracks the amount of steps
you take. If your kid can count, they can use this handy device.

A benchmark of 10,000 steps a day for a healthy lifestyle has been
established. Here are a few techniques you can use to help you and your
kid to hit that number: 

Pedometer-ize Yard Games
Take an existing game like Freeze Tag or Red Rover and add the
pedometer to it for enhanced play. For example: edit the rules in
freeze tag so that a frozen kid can unfreeze themselves by running in
place until the pedometer says 100. Or tell hiders in a game of Hide
and Seek that they need to hide at least 250 steps away. Building
minimum required steps into a game will get your kid to do some extra
running without any effort.

{mosnooad}That Boy is a Running Fool
Make like Forrest Gump and teach your kid how to run correctly. Explain
how to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. Buy them
comfortable shoes to run around in. Teach them how to love being fit
and show how running can increase the steps towards their daily goal.
I'm not saying making him into a Carl Lewis, but when was the last time
you saw a fat guy say they love to run?

Use the Stairs
Every chance you get, teach your kids by example that walking up the
stairs instead of using the escalator or elevator is a healthy
practice. Also demonstrate how walking up a flight of stairs will give
them 20 steps while an escalator gives you zero.

Park in East Bumblef*ck
One way to add in some extra steps is to park at the furthest part of a
parking lot. That extra 300 feet will add a lot to their count and for
an added bonus,  people will think you are the manager of the
store. Besides, I'm convinced if you parked a mile from Chuck E.
Cheese, your kid will walk it.

So you may be thinking, "How do you keep the kids motivated?" The
reality is your kid will walk wherever you take them. Teach them that
is part of living and enjoying life and they will follow suit. Most
kids, from my experience, will not want to walk because they have been
spoiled by being carried around all the time or just haven't been
pushed to exercise. Start early for their sake and yours.

Speaking of walking, this Sunday, Wahoodad and I will be leading Team
Noodad 26.2 miles in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk. If you would
like to donate to our team for this special cause, click here.