The temperature is cooling off, which means the family walk, bike rides or jogs are on hold until next spring.
Just because its cold out doesn't mean the exercise has to stop.
The experts at Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics explain how to keep your fit kid from turning into a couch potato this winter.
"It's important to keep a schedule and keep your body used to exercising and stay active all the time. It's important for general fitness; it will help kids stay focused in school if they maintain a healthy lifestyle through out the winter," says Michelle Rippe, PT, Physical Therapist with Children's Mercy.
Rippe says exercise doesn't have to include sit ups and pushups. Just get kids moving this winter:
- Enroll her in intramural sports.
- Join your local fitness center.
- Walk at the mall.
- Keep hula hoops, jump ropes and beach balls around so he can play in the basement or garage.
- Do aerobic or yoga videos together.
- Turn on the music and dance.
"The younger they learn exercise is a way of life and it apart of their daily routine, their normal lifestyle; the better the chance they will continue that through their lifetime," Rippe says.