How To: Encourage Physical Activity

When out of school for the summer, kids can be tempted to lounge around the house, playing video games or watching television. However, daily physical activity is important - as important as brushing your teeth, says Missy Williams, PT, DPT, a Le Bonheur physical therapist.

"Physical activity should be a part of your daily hygiene. You have one body, and you should take care of it," says Williams.

She offers parents some ideas for getting their kids off of the couch.

• Exercise as a family. Go for a walk or bike ride together. You'll enjoy some quality time while getting your physical activity for the day.
• Turn anything into a game. Run, hop, skip or jump to get a toy from the other room.
• Don't let the heat stop you. If it's hot outside, bring your hula hoop indoors or play charades - anything that requires movement. Have a family wheel barrow race: let your kids feet act as the handle bars while they walk on their hands.
• Play video games. Some video games are good choices. Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect are fun video games that include a lot of physical movement.
• Sign ?em up. Enroll your kids in a daytime camp during the summer that involves swimming, sports or other physical activities.

If you don't encourage your kids to be active when they're young, they can face dramatic consequences as adults. According to Williams, a lack of physical activity and being overweight can lead to joint pain, heart disease, diabetes and a greater risk for injury.