We all know that camps are a great place for children to learn, grow and be active. With today’s busy schedules, sometimes physical activities fall to the wayside, leading to concerns for overweight children.
But an ideal way to prevent obesity and get kids on a healthy track is to send them to summer camp.
“Kids try sports that are different from the ones they see in school -sports they don't play particularly well,” says Keith Ayoob, an associate professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, and a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association.
With the many choices of activities, sports and crafts available, campers are always kept actively engaged. In this, they can become a “jack of all trades” -- opening doors of possibility to take up new hobbies and interests.
But camp isn’t just about getting children physically and socially active.
According to the National Parks and Recreation Association website, “Camps play a vital role in addressing the obesity epidemic. Camp is a great place to offer good food, great activities, a positive environment, a safe and secure location, and most of all, fun.”
More and more camps are offering healthy snack and food choices. Fruit, vegetables and juice are replacing chips, dip and soft drinks.
But the healthy food choices and activities have to be addressed at home too. When campers go home, they can fall right back into their routine and bad habits.
Parents have to be aware of their own activity levels and what foods they bring into the house. Being a model example is one of the strongest ways to influence children’s preferences and choices.
According to health experts, there are numerous ways parents can help their children stay healthy and fit.
The first is by encouraging breakfast. Studies have shown that children perform better in school if they have a morning meal. Also, eating in the morning makes children less hungry for lunch
Another step is to enroll kids in an activity or program. Consider dance classes or karate, maybe even the chance to take up a new sport.
Also, replace fast food, junk food and side dishes for something healthy. The National Parks and Recreation Association encourages parents to “replace chips at meals with soy crisps or home-made potato dishes. Make your own trail mix with dried banana or other fruit chips, nuts, raisins, Cheerios, sunflower seeds, coconut flakes, toasted oatmeal or granola.”
Although summer camp can provide an escape from the every day schedule -- giving kids a chance to be active, adventurous, creative and explorative -- that’s just the beginning of preventing obesity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.