I am a foodie- insofar as I see food and I eat it. I can't comprehend these women who claim they forget to eat meals, as I can assure you I have never- nor will I ever forget to eat one of those coveted three squares a day. While I have one kid- who when offered ice cream or cake declines ( I honestly don't know how I could've sprung such an offspring from my womb) I have another who is more than happy to indulge in said treat and go back for seconds and thirds.
And that's the conundrum we all face as parents-how do we tactfully deny them that second portion of pizza without repercussion (i.e. as a result of our actions our kids are thrust into years of therapy wherein we are blamed for their issues with food). Well, according to my husband- who whether or not the sky is falling or the kids are screaming will strap on his sneakers and go for a five mile run- the best way for us parents to combat the battle of the bulge with our kids is to get them outdoors and moving. While in theory- it sounds simple any parent who has tried to pry their kids off the Wii, iPod and couch will admit putting this theory into practice requires some major fun factor incentive.
So the question is, as parents, how can we make outdoor play, getting our kids to exercise and simply to move their little bottoms as enticing as playing with Mario and Luigi? Making those outdoor activities as kid-friendly as possible. Because the bottom line is- once you can get your kids outdoors, walking and playing it no longer feels like exercise, rather your kids just conceives it is good old fashioned fun.
One of my favorite FREE get your kids outdoors classes is beginning this month: Learn to Ride
This group class is for children who are ready to ditch their training wheels and ride a two-wheeler for the first time. Through a safe, effective method, Bike New York's experienced instructors help parents teach their kids how to balance, pedal, start, stop, steer a bicycle and adjust their child's helmet for a comfortable fit and most importantly; get outdoors!
Time and Address:A class will be held on Saturday, May 12 from 12-2pm at Wolfe's Pond Park and on Saturday, May 19 from 12-3pm at Midland Beach. Log on to www.bikenewyork.org for registration (each participant must attend with a legal guardian.) NYC dates and locations vary, for a full schedule check out http://www.bikenewyork.org/education/classes/learn_to_ride.html
Age Appeal: Five and up. Kids over 14 years old can attend the Learn to Ride adult class.
Cost: FREE!
What kids will go gaga for: Learning to ride quickly (sometimes in just one session), balancing on a bicycle, pedaling, steady starting and stopping and how to steer with control. They'll also love the sense of independence.
Parent Perks: Parents who've been trying to teach their children how to ride the old-fashioned way will find this method easier due to their low-stress “Balance First” method. Instructors remove the pedals from the child's bike and teach them to master balancing prior to pedaling and other handling skills.
Drawbacks: Pre-registration is preferred. Participants must bring their own bicycles and helmets.
Overall: Bicycling makes a wonderful family activity, so the sooner your child learns to ride, the sooner you can bike together! Most kids get it in one session, but even if they don't, parents leave knowing an easy, crash-free, low stress technique that will have their kids riding independently in a short amount of time.
Information: http://www.bikenewyork.org/ 212-870 -2080.
Leave a Reply