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• Finding ways to get outside as a family
• A team approach
• Making a commitment to living an active lifestyle

Finding ways to get outside as a family

I think there’s a decision down the line that parents need to make about how much investment they can put in. If Billy’s going to watch a movie then we also make sure then we take a walk afterwards to get him moving. And if we go on a car ride, then we’ll stop if it’s long and we’ll play a game by the side of the road that includes running. I know that parents don’t need more things to do, they’re overwhelmed. But at the same time, I do think that it is important to limit the amount of TV, limit computer use where they’re just sitting still and find ways to get outside as a family and move and be active. It’s another way to really help your whole family be healthy, but also to have your kid have good blood sugar control.

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A team approach

I think the team approach is really key because you can’t look at your kid and say you have to exercise more and then expect your kid, especially if they’re by themselves, to go out and run around.  If my son is running high blood sugars, or if we’ve had a particularly large meal, you have got to get off your own chair and go take a walk with your son. So what we’ll do is say, “Ok.  That was a big meal. We’re going for a walk.” And my son might say, “Oh, I’m not really up for a walk. I’m too full.” And I’ll say, “Well, I’m really full too. That’s why you and I are going for a walk.” We don’t make it something like a punishment that he has to do himself, we just make it inclusive. We have all come up with a lot of games. Kids love to play games. So, you can come up with games in either in the basement or in your backyard. Or say “Gee, let’s go out and shoot baskets together”, or “Let’s go play catch”, or “Why don’t you show me how that skateboard works?” It really becomes a nice way to connect with your kids, when otherwise you might be just watching television or something along those lines, or not paying attention to your kid at all while they’re on the computer and you’re looking over your mail. Instead, the first focus has to be what is healthy for my child, and the nice thing is that at least that ends up being healthier for me and for my wife and adds to the whole parent child bond as well.

-Father

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Making a commitment to living an active lifestyle

The most important thing for us is that he has an active lifestyle, he is in motion, whether it is through play or organized sports--it doesn’t matter. He has a Nintendo DS, which I hate, but we make sure it is partnered with lots of exercise. We don’t say, “OK Brady, it’s time to exercise”, but we make sure that he’s skateboarding or running around and playing tag with his friends. When he has the opportunity to be outside swimming or doing something, we make sure that he’s doing that, and that we’re bringing him to different things. So for us, it was just making a commitment to all of us living an active lifestyle.

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