Spring has finally arrived and summer is around the corner! Are your kids getting outside, being active or are they still inside watching TV, on cell phones, computers and video games? According to The President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, the average child between 8 and 18, spends more than 7½ hours a day on electronics!

This sedentary lifestyle for our kids is an unhealthy habit that leads to weight gain and lower academic achievement which can ultimately lead to chronic disease. In fact, research shows that kids gain two to three times more weight in the summer months than during the school year. Many children fall behind academically during the summer months too.

Summertime in Woodbury MN can be summed up into one word; FUN! Kids look forward to this time of year every year with all the outdoor activities, picnics, and gatherings. Why not take advantage of this summertime enthusiasm and integrate a few good habits to promote health and fitness in your children's lives.

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Get Moving in Woodbury MN

There is a lot competing for your child's attention these days, especially with video games and TV. Reduce the "screen time" for your kids and increase their physical activity with daily outdoor playtime. Invite some friends over, get out the soccer balls, play a game of basketball or volleyball and let them run a few laps in the backyard. You can also do a summer challenge such as a 5k that have a children's fun run for the kids. These events usually benefit a worthy cause and you can increase your fitness health and give back to the community by participating. Way better than TV! It's recommended that children get a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day.

Veg Out

Summertime is a great time to enjoy sweet and refreshing fruits. Focus on eating a variety of different colored fruits and veggies to be sure you are getting the variety of vitamins and minerals the body needs. Let your kids create the ultimate fruit salad with their favorite fruits and add some walnuts, oat clusters, and dried cherries. It tastes great and is full of vitamins and essential nutrients!

Also, get them to eat a few veggies on a homemade pizza! Grab a roll of pizza dough at your local grocery store, grab a few fun shaped cookie cutters, and stamp out the dough as you would a sugar cookie. Add some fresh veggies along with some reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese and dig in! Kids love to create and if you let them use their creativity to create new healthy dishes, they will be more willing to eat them!

Get Dirty

A great way to mix outdoor activities with healthy eating is to start a garden. For added fun, use the seeds from the fruits and veggies you've eaten to grow your garden!

Get Involved

The most important element to creating lasting habits of health and fitness in your kids is you! Play with your kids outside, take them to the grocery store, let them create a meal, and let them help you in the kitchen. You will not only help them create good health habits that last, you might even create some for you!

Here is a fun website to check out! It has fun printables for healthy food and activity ideas where you can also narrow down the search by Age and grade!

http://www.nourishinteractive.com/nutrition-education-printables/category/14-fitness-kids-exercise-active-children-physical-education