Fun fitness tips to keep the kids in shape

Obesity in kids has nearly doubled in the last ten years, to almost 16 percent. To stem this growing epidemic we've got to get our kids to become more active. But telling them to exercise doesn't always work. “Today” fitness expert Kathy Kaehler believes that if you make the exercises fun, like playing games, your kids will be much more likely to do it. Here’s where to start:

Dots
This is a great way to create fun in your basement, driveway, and patio or in a hallway or even in your bedroom if you have space. They’re called agility dots. You can create your own foot patterns. This is good for motor skill development in children. The set includes 6 six-inch multi-colored dots. They’re made out of flexible rubber to provide traction while you use them. You set them up in a configuration to perform hops and jumps. Put the dots in a zig zag line and hop from one to the other on both feet and then back, hopping on one foot. Then change to the other foot. It’s also good for balance, speed, agility and getting the heart rate up. A parent can use a stopwatch for one minute and see if the child can stay on the dots for that length of time. Kids can challenge their parents to see if they can go for one minute hopping from dot to dot. Price is $29.95 a set. You can buy it at power-systems.com or call (800) 321-6975.

Sidewalk Chalk
In any house with kids you'll probably find a pack of sidewalk chalk. For the most part it's used for drawing pictures on the driveway or seeing how cool you can write your name. Here’s another use for the chalk. Holding a piece of chalk in one hand, bend down and mark where your heel is on the ground. Next, still holding the chalk, do a standing broad jump and leap forward as far as you can go. Then bend down and mark where your heel is now to see how far you jumped. If you want, you can use a tape measure and chart your progress -- otherwise you can just look at your mark from the last time and try to jump farther. Do 5-8 jumps each time you do it. Chalk is available in your local drugstore or at Toys-R-Us.

Obstacle Course
First, the hurdle: start by jumping over the hurdle with both feet or goes over it like an actual hurdle. Then hop on one foot through two rings. Then on two feet, jump through two more rings and hop into the last ring on one foot. Next, cones: they are spread far apart with two on one side and three on the other. Run to one on the side, touch it and run to the other side and touch it. Then back to the first side and so on. Then jump the hurdle again to the finish line. You can also change the course. It comes with sample courses.

The "backyard obstacle course" is made by Wham-O and is $14.99 at target stores. It comes with an inflatable ball, a stopwatch, a Frisbee, hurdles, 5 rings, cones, and start and finish lines.

Twister Moves
This game is for ages 8 and up and you can have 1 to 4 players. You twist, dance and move to the music. You put your feet on the yellow footprints, put on the CD that comes with it, and the object is to keep in the groove and follow the moves, doing what the DJ says to do. This is a fun way to move around on a rainy day with friends or with mom. Kids like this game because it's fun, you have to listen, and you have to use coordination and flexibility. It’s made by Milton Bradley and costs $24.99. You can get it at target or toy stores.

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