Overweight, Boring Children? Your Fault.

Climbing Rocks on Our Favorite Nature Trail

A recent study on why our most recent generation of children is more likely to watch TV or play video games revealed that the parents were usually at fault for their children's unhealthy behavior.

Children reported wanting to go outside & play, but parents often refused because they felt it 'wasn't safe.'

When I was about 9 years old I remember riding my bike for miles (we're talking 10+) often with a friend on the handlebars to the beach so that we could go swimming in Lake Michigan. There were plenty of other children around and we rode in the streets because motorists pretty much always got out of our way.

Though there are bike lanes by my house, I have never seen an unaccompanied child riding down my street. And, although our city law requires that in areas without bike lanes people on bikes be given the same road rights as cars, it rarely happens.

What do you think? What can we, as parents, do to make the streets safe for our kids again?

Experts blame parental fear for kids shunning cycling and swimming for TV and computers

Namaste,
Ani

Sometimes It Rains...

Pick up a pair of fun rainboots & a colorful umbrella to turn your rainy day walks into little adventures!

Turns out, walking to the store in the rain can actually be pretty fun!

Kids Can Walk Too You Know

Walking in Freedom Park

Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.  

~Steven Wright

When I was a kid we were a one car family. My mom was a SAHM in a small town and if we needed to go somewhere during the day we walked.

We walked to the store.
We walked to school.
We walked to the park.
We walked to the library.
We walked to our friends' houses.
We walked to the creek.
We walked just for fun.

My son was just 4 years old when we got rid of our car and it never crossed my mind that a 5 mile walk was too much for him until someone asked me how he did it.

Turns out, he just does.

He doesn't complain.
He walks.
He skips ahead.
He collects sticks, rocks and leaves.
He talks about what he sees.
He asks for the occasional drink of water.

Try taking a walk around the block with your kid. Then to the park. Then to someplace even farther away. Keep them engaged. They'll love it.

Namaste,
Ani

Rainy Day Fun

Stuck indoors with kids and no TV on a rainy day?

Some of the things we've done over the last three days...

• Draw a picture.
• Build a pillow fort.
• Make and play with playdoh.
• Take a (pretend) trip to space.
• Open your own restaurant or store (my son's idea).
• Read a book.
• Build a block city.
• Create a wooden railway.
• Make up silly stories.

What do you do with your kids on rainy days?