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Expert Q&A

	By Mindy Hudon Speech and Language Pathologist

My kids are couch potatoes. All they want to do is watch TV. What can I do?

Today, because children's days are nearly as scheduled as adults' – and they are driven, rather than walk, everywhere – we need to "program" movement into our daily lives.

That doesn't have to be as challenging as it may sound. It can be as simple as putting on some music and holding a dance party in the living room. Make a game of Statues out of it by inviting your children to move in any way they want while the music is playing and to freeze into statues when you pause the music. Play Follow the Leader, or break out the pots and pans and hold a parade around the house. Play a rousing game of Twister or simply go for an after-dinner stroll.

Once you've turned off the TV, you'll be amazed at the amount of time you have together and the creative ways you'll find to spend that time. Remember, though, that the most important thing you can do is to serve as a role model. Research has shown that parents' inactivity may exert more influence on their children's behavior than being active does. So, if your children see you sitting in front of the TV during all your free time – if they never see you exercising or enjoying yourself as you do something physical – your actions (in this case inactions) will speak volumes. They'll simply follow suit. Even if you tell them how important it is to be physically active, they'll have no reason to believe you. So turn off the TV, and turn on to physical activity! Both you and your children will be glad you did.

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