ACFN Encourages Activity during Summer Break

"Tips for a Healthier Summer" encourage more activity for youth

Washington, DC  –- As youth across the nation begin their summer vacations, the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) encourages families to focus on healthy lifestyle choices by including physical activity as a part of each day.  Planning simple activities can make a big difference as students leave the structured school day and are tempted to spend hours relatively inactive at home.  In light of the national obesity epidemic that is threatening the health of too many young people, taking action this summer will help them to avoid serious medial conditions in the future, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease.    

“With one-third of youth classified as either obese or at risk of becoming obese, the summer is an excellent time to focus on increasing physical activity and on making a commitment to healthy lifestyle changes,” said Dr. Sue Finn, CEO of the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition.  “There is no way around it.  In order to avoid the health related risks associated with obesity, more physical activity and better dietary choices are needed.”

The following ACFN Tips for a Healthy Summer will help parents encourage kids to stay active with fun and engaging activities suited to a variety of interests. Dr. Finn can discuss these tips, offer additional suggestions, and answer questions upon request.
 
Tips for a healthier summer for kids!

1. Plan a way to fit activity into your day. Every activity we do during the day could be made into an opportunity to get exercise. Encourage your kids to walk to their friend’s house or the pool instead of getting a ride. Simple tasks like taking the stairs instead of the elevator can help burn calories. Fun Fitness Idea: Splash and Dive 100. Select a friend or adult to throw a ball into the pool while calling out a point number. The child who catches the ball will receive the points and the first to 100 points is the winner. 
2. Turn off all kids’ electronics for at least an hour. Get your child unglued from the screen by planning an hour of fun, interactive activities for your kids to get fit. Fun Fitness Idea: Plan a scavenger hunt walk for your family. Before leaving, make a list of what you want to find, and the child with the most discoveries wins. To encourage learning, have your child point out anything “new” to them and take a picture. When you get home, research the new items online.
3. Be sun safe. Being out in the sun for hours without the proper amount of sunscreen is extremely dangerous for your child’s skin. When you are participating in outdoor activities, remember to wear sunscreen and reapply after a few hours. Sun tip: Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going in the sun. If you are having trouble getting your child to wear the lotion, try colored sunscreens that disappear after being applied.
4. Stay cool with H2O. Make sure your child is provided with enough water to stay hydrated during their physical activities. H2O tip: To attract your children to the idea of staying hydrated, try flavored water or use fun shaped ice cubes to get their attention.
5. Cool with your kids. The best way to teach your kids to make healthier food decisions is to get them involved! Fun Fitness Idea: Have a “Recipe Day” where the child gets to pick amongst healthy recipes. Children will be more willing to try new foods when they make their own decisions.
6. Learning the label. Teach you children to understand the nutrition labels on foods in your home.  Make sure to note that the number of servings contained in a package is given on the nutrition label.  Fun Fitness Idea: Have your children sort through food packages at home and group foods by the number of servings in each package. Discuss that moderation is the key to including a variety of foods into a sound diet.       
7. Have fun in your own yard. Encouraging your child to participate in more fitness can begin in your own backyard. Throw the Frisbee around instead of being inactive, or play a game of flashlight tag after dessert. Fun Fitness Idea: Help your child set up an obstacle course in your backyard made out of items in your garage. This exercise requires your child’s imagination while keeping them fit. Add in a stopwatch to keep track of times.
8. Make your child your personal trainer. This is a great tip for parents who are trying to get the whole family involved in a healthy lifestyle. Fun Fitness Idea: Tell your child that they are your personal trainer and you need their help to stay in shape. Asking your child for help makes them feel important and uses their imagination to think of innovative ways to stay fit.
9. Take to the sky with kites. Getting active can be as much fun as you make it.  Fun Fitness Idea: If you’re looking for an activity that is less strenuous than traditional workouts, take to the sky by flying kites.  Once you start getting active you will be able to build up to more rigorous workouts.      
10.  Keep fitness fun. However you choose to include fitness in your lifestyle, make sure you keep it fun! The more fun and engaging the activity is, the more likely you will be to keep your children interested. Adopting good eating and exercise habits during youth will keep your child fit for life!

CONTACT
Ben Becker
202-715-1528

Interview Opportunity: Noted fitness and nutrition expert Dr. Susan Finn is available for interviews about today’s health challenges facing America’s youth.