Monkey see, monkey do.’ We are all familiar with that phrase, referring to someone or something that copies another person. However, did you know it also might accurately represent a great strategy for parents to help their children develop good eating habits and activity levels? Research suggests that children whose parents play an active role in their health education while they grow up are less likely to become overweight, obese, and develop unhealthy habits (4).

Parents, you play an exciting role in your child’s life. Kids are like sponges and they absorb all sorts of information around them. If you go out for a run, bike ride, or pickup soccer game they will see you and 9 times out of 10 will probably want to join you! As a parent, you are creating and influencing the habits that your children will rely on for the rest of their lives.

There are many ways to go about combating obesity but one of the most important weapons in our arsenal is right at home. At 2nd Recess, we encourage parents to join their kids in active play because we know of the power they hold to make a difference in the health of their child. If you are a parent and want to know how to inspire your family to be healthy and active get started by visiting our website, www.2ndrecess.org, or the Let’sMove.gov site.

Try incorporating one of the tips below to jump start your family health routine!
1. Be active (1)!
2. Encourage playing outside (2).
3. Have dinner as a family (3).
4. Learn about healthy habits as a family.

References
1. M. Y. Hood and others, “Parental Eating Attitudes and the Development of Obesity in Children: The Framingham Children’s Study,” International Journal of Obesity 24, no. 10 (2000): 1319.
2. T. Baranowski and others, “Observations on Physical Activity in Physical Locations: Age, Gender, Ethnicity, and Month Effects,” Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport 64, no. 2 (1993): 127–33; J. F. Sallis and others, “Correlates of Physical Activity at Home in Mexican-American and Anglo-American Preschool Children,” Health Psychology 12, no. 5 (1993): 390–98.
3. M. W. Gillman and others, “Family Dinner and Diet Quality among Older Children and Adolescents,” Archives of Family Medicine 9, no. 3 (2000): 235–40; D. Neumark-Sztainer and others, “Family Meal Pat- terns: Associations with Sociodemographic Characteristics and Improved Dietary Intake among Adoles- cents,” Journal of the American Dietetic Association 103, no. 3 (2003): 317–22.
4. Ana C. Lindsay, Katarina M. Sussner, Juhee Kim, and Steven Gortmaker, “The Role of Parenting in Preventing Childhood Obesity,” The Future of Children 16, 1 (2006): 169-86.  ​

Learning Nutrition is as easy as ABCDE
Children are taught from an early age to learn their ABC’s. Although important, recent research from the American Psychological Association has determined that it might be equally as important for children to learn their “ABCDE’s”.

What does ABCDE stand for?
ABCDE stands for “Act Boldly to Change Diet and Exercise”. This initiative begun when researchers found alarming statistics about the state of health experienced by modern day children. A few of these statistics are outlined below.

• Approximately 16-17 million children live within a home where they are at risk for experiencing hunger
• An estimated 1 in 3 children are overweight
• Only about 30% of US children partake in vigorous physical activity on a daily basis

What are some tips and tricks to Act Boldly and Change Diet and Exercise?

• Act Boldly
  • As a role model for your child: Eat nutritious foods and regularly partake in physical activity
  • As a gatekeeper: As a parents you have the power to purchase healthy foods and monitor the foods that your child consumes on a daily basis
  • As an advocate: Push daily for nutritious school lunches, and after-school exercise programs that keep children healthy and fit!
• Change Diet
  • By ensuring that your child eats foods that are low in fat and sugar
  • By implementing healthy and wholesome foods that are nutrient dense
  • By monitoring portion sizes
  • By Influencing children to make healthy choices and try new foods daily
• Change Exercise 
  • Set aside 60 minutes out of every day to go outside and PLAY with your children
  • Provide your children with gifts that promote physical activity; EX: basketballs, jump-ropes
  • Invite your child to partake in yard work and other activities around the home

References
ABCDE.(n.d.). Retrieved July 10, 2016, from http://www.apa.org/topics/children/healthy-eating.aspx

SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) - It’s never too early to start getting in shape for summer. Why not get your kids excited too?

2nd Recess is here to help for kids ages 5 and up. The after school running program introduces fun and fitness to kids through running.

Each practice consists of a thorough warmup, drills, and strides, followed by two workouts and a cooldown. The practice concludes with a talk on an inspirational topic as well as a healthy snack.

Do your kids already love running? Take them down to Petco Park on Sunday to participate in the San Diego Kids Race. The race is a closed-loop course inside the park. Interested in the race? Head here for tickets.
​
2nd Recess founders, Natasha LaBeaud Anzures & Marco Anzures, along with some runners joined News 8 Morning Extra to talk about all things running.
​