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Get Moving as a Family Help your children get the exercise they need As a parent, you can help your kids stay fit. And that’s important — childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the percentage of overweight children has doubled since 1980. “Many parents confuse kids being busy with kids getting exercise and being fit,” says Wallace Matthews, M.D., pediatrician and pediatric pulmonologist at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. “The four components of fitness that parents should look at are body composition, aerobic capacity, flexibility and strength.” He adds, “You probably don’t need a bunch of sophisticated tests to determine whether your child is fit.” If your son or daughter can barely carry a bag of groceries from the car to the house, “start getting your child more physically active, and consider participating in some form of physical activity with your child.” To make fitness a family affair: Turn a walk into an adventure. Even if you’re just walking in your neighborhood, you can make it fun for your kids. Pretend you’re hiking on mountain trails, search for “wild” animals or race each other to the next tree. Play games that move you. Relive your own childhood by playing the games you loved as a kid. Play tag, Red Rover, hide-and-seek or any other fast-moving game. Look for community fitness events. Fitness centers, such as the YMCA, often offer pastimes for the whole family. Check community centers to find gyms or pools, as well as road races or fitness classes geared for all ages. Turn chores into games. Try raking leaves and jumping in the piles. As a parent, you can make sure your family gets physical. You’ll help your kids stay fit and, as a bonus, have a healthy excuse to spend quality time together. Wallace Matthews, M.D. >> HEAR FROM THE EXPERT: Exercise, a Family Affair Tuesday, June 15, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Click here for more information.