Active Children, Active Families brochure — American Indian
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American Indian/Alaskan Native Version
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Active Children Active Families A Helpful Guide for Native American and
Alaskan Native Parents and Caregivers
VERB. It’s What you Do. Native Style.
Introduction
There is no question that physical activity is good for children. Just
consider the evidence. Physical activity strengthens muscles, bones and joints.
It gives children the opportunity to gain self-esteem, confidence, and a sense
of well-being. It reduces stress and anxiety levels. It also prevents disease
and may even improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels. After school
programs offer children fun alternatives to risky behaviors. Do you know what
your children are doing after school?
Challenge:
A lack of physical activity.
Physical inactivity is a serious problem for many children.
Solution:
Make physical activity fun and challenging
Encourage children to participate in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous
activity every day. Motivate kids to get involved in supervised activities
or support their initiative to be active on their own. Investigate whether
your school and community center have recreational activities, such as
basketball and soccer, for youth on weekends or after school.
Search for activities to do “around the house” like shooting hoops, dancing,
picking berries, hiking, playing catch or kickball, riding horses or bicycles.
Use the seasons to inspire outdoor activities, like skiing and snowshoeing in
winter, and swimming in summer.
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Challenge:
The community or school lacks resources
Some areas lack playgrounds, courts, or after-school programs.
Solution:
Become an advocate
Talk to teachers and administrators. Ask them to support daily physical
education and other school programs that promote lifelong physical activity.
Make sure your children are provided with at least 20 minutes of recess
during school each day. Call on tribal leaders to install park equipment,
bike paths, or other resources for physical activity. Promote Community and
Health Centers that offer programs to give children more opportunities to
get active.
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Challenge:
Screens compete for time
The average child spends up to six hours watching television, playing video
games, and surfing the net each day.1
Solution:
Offer interesting, educational alternatives
Start by allowing your children to watch only one to two hours of quality TV
programming per day.2 Remove TV sets from children’s bedrooms and
encourage them to spend time with different media, such as reading books or
dancing to music. Lead by example to limit “screen time” and encourage
participation in physical activities.
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Challenge:
Lack of time and resources
Including physical activity and daily routines requires some effort and
planning.
Solution:
Be a role model in leading physical activities with your children, family
and community.
Find activities that can be part of your child’s routine. Explore your
surroundings for creative ways to be physically active together.
Walk with your child at every available opportunity, like going to school or
doing errands. Add physical activities such as hiking, biking, or taking long
walks to your weekend plans.
Household chores like walking the dog, washing the car, or raking leaves
include physical activity, so encourage the children to tackle them with gusto.
Make it fun and rewarding.
Visit www.VERBparents.com to get new ideas about increasing the physical
activity levels of your children.
- www.cdc.gov/verb for information about the campaign.
- www.VERBnow.com to see how children will experience VERB online.
- www.americanheart.org* to get tips for raising heart-healthy, active
children.
- www.shapeup.org* for information about healthy weight management through
better nutrition and increased physical activity.
1 Media in the Home 2000: The Fifth Annual
Survey of Parents and Children, 2000.
2 The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Public Education,
Children, Adolescents and Television, 2001.
VERB™ is a trademark of the Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention. ©2003 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All
rights reserved.
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* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided
solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any
organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The
CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages
found at these links.
Page last reviewed: August 1, 2007
Page last modified: August 1, 2007
Content source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health |
