Fit Families

So how much time does your family spend on the Internet? Are you exercising your fingers more than your legs? You CAN use the Internet to help you get fit and stay fit. It’s a matter of what you access, and how you apply that knowledge. It’s time to walk the talk!

CONNECT:

• In order to be fit, it helps to know how the body works. You can watch movices, take quizes, and do activities all about the parts or your body: http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/#cat20130
• Hospitals want to keep you healthy; Kaiser Permanente’s webpage Kid Wisdom (http://info.kaiserpermanente.org/richmedia/kidWisdom/) has kid-friendly features and activities to develop healthy habits.
• You’d think that playing sports would be healthy, but consider all the accidents that occur. Should you avoid sports instead? No, you just have to learn to play them safely. KidsHealth has several sports safety tips as well as points for choosing the right sport for you: http://kidshealth.org/teen/nutrition_fitness_center/index.html?tracking=81347_C#cat20755
• Girls have different fitness needs than boys. Find out what works for girls at http://www.girlshealth.gov/fitness/index.html

CREATE:

• How fit is your family? This this free Health Risk Assessment as a family, and then follow some suggestions on improving your family’s fitness, found at http://www.fitkidsnc.com/AtHome.aspx
• Is your family thinking about getting some exercise equipment? Check before you buy. Exercise Equipment Review (http://www.exercise-equipment-review.com/ )links to sources of trusted reviews.
• There’s lots of fun fitness games at Kidnetic (http://www.kidnetic.com/), some created by kids. Try a few, design a dance, and test yourself.
• Bicycling can be a family-friendly way to keep fit. Find out resources, including 41,000 miles of cycling routes at the American Cycling Association website:  http://www.adventurecycling.org/. Try creating your own cycling route.

CARE:

• Special Olympics is a wonderful way to help people with disabilities have opportunities to excel in sports. You can get involved in several ways; check out http://www.specialolympics.org/Sections/Get_Involved/Get_Involved.aspx
• You can keep fit and help others keep fit outdoors by volunteering to help create and maintain trails. Participate in National Trails Day: http://www.americanhiking.org/national-trails-day/
• “It takes heart to be a hero!” That’s the American Heart Association slogan for helping donate to their cause. For example, you can participate in Jump Rope for Kids (http://www.kintera.org/site/c.dkLRKbOWLjK4E/b.8180513/k.BD61/Home.htm); you keep healthy, and help others get healthy along the way.
• You can create your own video workout: at http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/abs/create-your-own-video-workout/. Think about making one for a friend.

CAREERS:
Physical fitness trainers, sports coaches, physical therapists, kinesiologists, nutritionists, sports equipment manufacturers, naturalists, physicians, all help people keep fit. Check out some of those careers at:

• http://www.bls.gov/ooh/personal-care-and-service/fitness-trainers-and-instructors.htm
• http://www.americankinesiology.org/careers-in-sport-fitness-and-exercise
• http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/70/Physical_Therapist
• http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-career
• http://exercise.about.com/cs/forprofessionals/a/careers.htm