Mom’s Talk Q&A: Get Your Child Fit by Doing Your Bit

Q: I’ve read the myriad of studies showing that children are becoming obese in alarming numbers, and I’m concerned that my four-year-old is a bit of a couch potato (with rare exception; rather than join the other kids at the playground, he prefers to watch TV, read books with me or play with his train or LEGO® sets). I signed him up for Gymboree this summer, but how can I keep him moving till he hits the “Gym?”

A: I, too, worry about the epidemic of childhood obesity, which is why when it comes to my daughter, I encourage her to snack on vanilla instead of chocolate cookies (one chocoholic in the family is quite enough) and feel grateful that so far she prefers blueberries to brownies. Fortunately, she loves burning energy at the playground, and to keep her moving, I tape American Idol and dance around the room with her while we listen to the performances. I figure that since she’s started modeling my behavior in every other way (at random moments she cries out, “hi, pizza…here” into her toy cell phone, which my husband finds hilarious) she might as well follow my healthful lead.

On that note, Head Start Body Start National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play, which is part of the Surgeon General’s Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative, suggests a few fun activities you can do with your child to help encourage a healthy lifestyle and develop her motor skills using easily accessible materials such as beach balls, paper plates and pool noodles. 

Having a Ball: For a game of “Simon Says” with a twist, have your child toss a beach ball up into the air and do what Simon (you) says before it hits the ground. Simon can give directions such as “touch your nose,” “clap your hands,” “twirl around” or “jump up and down”. 

Paper Scooting Around: On a carpeted floor, place a small object on a paper plate and ask your child to “deliver” it to you on the other side of the room. To make the delivery he should place both hands on the plate and push it towards you, keeping his knees off the floor. This is a great way for your child to develop upper body strength, stability and endurance.

Find Balance Using Your (Pool) Noodle: Tape a flat pool noodle to the floor and ask your child to pretend he is performing a high wire daredevil act at the circus. Tell him to walk across the “beam” forwards, sideways and backwards, and then squat with a straight back and stand back up again.

For more activities, visit the Head Start Body Start Toolbox at www.headstartbodystart.org. Each month the Center features a free, downloadable "Let's Get Moving" physical activity calendar that offers a simple, fun movement idea for every day of the month.

Cheap Classes for Kids You Can Count On 

Q: I am so tired of shelling out big bucks for music, gym and art classes. Are there any classes we can take that don’t require me to take out a second mortgage in order to enrich my child?

A: You didn’t say how old your child is, but you might be pleasantly surprised (as was I) to find that almost every town in Bergen County has a recreation center that offers classes to residents for a nominal fee. For example, last Fall through the Fort Lee Recreation Center my toddler and I took an eight-week Abrakadoodle® Twoosy Doodler “My First Art Class” for just $104, and now her room is adorned with her (ok, our) drawings, artwork and sculpture.

Here is a list of some local recreation centers and the types of classes for children they usually offer:

Edgewater Recreation Department www.edgewaternj.org;(201-943-1700). Arts & crafts, dance, music, Spanish, martial arts, sports, playgroups; Pre-K, Kiddie and mini-camps. Summer registration is May 8 and 10.

Englewood Parks Department www.cityofenglewood.org (201-568-3472). Basketball, dance, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, playgroups, SunFun Day Camp. Online registration is six weeks before the start of a program.

Fort Lee Department of Parks and Recreation; www.fortleenj.org (201-592-3630). Summer tennis clinic, golf clinic, Abrakadoodle® art camps, multi-sport camp, chess camp. Registration will continue till July.

Leonia Recreation Department www.leonianj.gov (201-592-5783). Pre-K and older: yoga, gym, music, arts & crafts, ballet, summer camp. Youth: taekwondo, basketball, yoga, ballet, arts & crafts. Registration for summer camp until April 30.

Tenafly Recreation Commission; www.tenaflynj.org; (201-871-3008). Arts & crafts; dance, tumbling, cooking, music, chess and taekwondo. Seasonal sports clinics for grades K-2, Start Smart, an early childhood sports development program, summer day camp, and fun camp for preschoolers. Registration for summer programs is through June 1.

A call to mom entrepreneurs: I am writing an upcoming article on local mom-owned businesses just in time for mother’s day. To be considered, please send me an email at erswriter@aol.com by May 1 (write mom-owned business in the subject line). Include a description of your business, your website or professional Facebook page, and a high-resolution image.

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Editor’s note: If you have questions related to parenting, raising kids or just generally being a mom, feel free to submit them to the author at estellewriter@aol.com, like the author at http://www.facebook.com/estelle.sobel.erasmus or email the editor at erik.wander@patch.com. Your question might just be featured in a future column.