WHAT NEW FOR BE ACTIVE PARENTS? 

  • A Minute for Kids - Listen to this short audio file from the American Academy of Pediatrics about getting your children active at home.
  • Mother Nature's Child - Watch this video to find out: Why do children need unstructured time outside? What is the place of risk-taking in healthy child development? How is play a form of learning? Why are teachers resistant to taking students outside? How can city kids connect with nature? What does it mean to educate the ‘whole’ child?
  • Play Again - Watch this video to help understand the importance of getting children and families outside and playing and reducing screen time.

  • Nature Rocks - This site will help you find all sorts of nature activities, plus tools to help guide and plan your adventures. You’ll also find useful tips and information to help you get into nature without getting over your head. It's fast and easy so you can shut your computer down quickly, open up that door and be on your way in as little as 5 minutes. Nature is closer than you think!

  • Parenting for Health - This site helps to empower parents to improve children’s health and advocate for healthy food and physical activity environments throughout North Carolina.
  • Baby Sign Language - This site provides you with information and resources for teaching and using sign language with your young children.  


FAMILY NUTRITION IDEAS 
  • Be brave! Take your children to the grocery store to help you shop for food. Have them choose one new fruit or vegetable to try each week.
  • Invite your children into the kitchen to help with making meals and snacks. They can wash fruits and vegetables, add ingredients to dips and pizza, stir muffin mix, set the table, put ice in the glasses or help to clean up afterwards.
  • When grandma visits (or any other favorite relative or friend), the children may help plan the family menu for a well-balanced breakfast, lunch or dinner. Discuss how it should be cooked or prepared.
  • Have your children help plan a healthy bag lunch. Allow them to offer ideas and think of healthful alternatives.
  • Prepare pancakes for a meal (yes, even dinner!). Cut out pancakes with cookie cutters and decorate them with fruit, yogurt, Cool Whip, berries or jelly.
  • Have your children help plan a party (any kind of party!) for their friends. Remember that a party may be just two other friends. Allow children to offer ideas about healthy snacks to serve. A balanced refreshment list including healthy choices is the goal.
  • Have your children keep food diaries of their breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks over the course of the day. Have them draw pictures of the food. Have a fun discussion about what they ate and when.

[back to top]


HEALTHY SNACKING IDEAS
Snacks are a great way to refuel. Small children need snacks to meet their high-energy needs. You do not have to cut out treats such as cookies, chips or ice-cream to keep a healthy diet…just limit how often and how much these types of snacks are offered.

  • The best snacks are rich in nutrients, carbohydrates, and protein, as well as Vitamins A and C.
  • Vary the color, texture and consistency of snacks.
  • Mix crunchy, creamy, colorful, sweet and spicy foods.
  • Serve low fat or skim milk, yogurt & pudding. Serve high protein foods such as turkey or chicken.
  • Serve a bean dip with baked tortilla chips.
  • Serve no-sugar cereals such as Chex or Cheerios.
  • Allow children to assist in snack preparation.
  • Slice fruits and vegetables into small pieces and remove seeds and pits.
  • Introduce one food item at a time along with an old favorite.
[back to top]

FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS
  • Limit TV viewing to two shows per day. You can select the shows together using a TV guide.
  • When the family members go to the mall, grocery store, video store or soccer games, have the driver park at the end of the parking lot so everyone gets the exercise they need from walking.
  • Have each family member express a wish, no matter how unrealistic, for an activity that the family would enjoy. Match the wishes with realistic alternatives. If a backyard pool is not practical, find a community pool. If mountain climbing is not available close by, try hiking in a nearby park.
  • Have your children pick an activity for the entire family after dinner. Ideas could be walking, bike riding or playing catch.
  • Eat together as a family, away from the TV. 
  • Plan a birthday party at the roller or ice skating rink.
  • Encourage families to hide the TV remote control for one week. Then, have a discussion to see if they got more physical activity.
  • Go to the park as a family. Everyone plays on the equipment together!
  • Walk or ride bikes together as a family to the local library and check out a book. Make sure everyone wears a helmet.
  • Pick a day and have everyone agree to turn off the TV and get active. Keep a chart of daily minutes in action!

[back to top]


ENCOURAGING AN OVERWEIGHT CHILD

My child is overweight...What should I do?

  • Do give your child lots of love and affection.
  • Do expect your child to grow into his or her weight.
  • Do have regular meals and snacks.
  • Do serve the same food to all family members.
  • Do let your child decide how much to eat.
  • Do have snack foods such as graham crackers, frozen fruit-juice bars, string cheese, low-fat yogurt, frozen low-fat yogurt and fruit.
  • Do encourage your child to be more active by playing outside, swinging, running and playing with toys such as balls, Frisbees and jump ropes.
  • Do plan family activities such as going to parks and playgrounds, hiking and swimming.
  • Don't pressure your child to be thin.
  • Don't expect your child to lose weight quickly.
  • Don't put your child on a low-calorie diet.
  • Don't limit the amount of food your child can eat or make your child eat all the food on his or her plate.
  • Don't have lots of high-calorie snacks such as potato chips, corn chips, cookies, cakes, pies, ice cream, cupcakes, candy, donuts, granola bars and soft drinks.
  • Don't let your child spend a lot of time watching TV or playing video games.
  • Don't let your family become "couch potatoes."
[back to top]

If you have a creative idea that encourages children, teachers and/or parents to be physically active or engage in healthy eating habits submit them via email to info@beactivekids.org, by fax to 919-287-7009, or by mail to Be Active North Carolina, Be Active Kids, 2250 Perimeter Park Drive, Ste 120, Morrisville, NC, 27560.