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Play is good for children, study says
Boston Globe & AP ^ | 24 July 2006 | Maria Cheng

Posted on 07/31/2006 2:28:16 AM PDT by strider44

Edited on 07/31/2006 2:49:58 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

Doctors may soon have a prescription for health that even children will like: more playtime. European and international health experts say a new study makes the most convincing case yet for the benefits of children being active. They say the research may lead to new guidelines saying youngsters between ages 5 and 16 need to be active up to 1 1/2 hours a day.


(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


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KEYWORDS: airisgood; foodisgood; milkisgood; napsaregoodtoo; sunrisesineast; wateriswet
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To: strider44

All things in moderation.

I have a 6' 18 year old, and he weighs about 155 lbs.

He played video games, but he also liked the outdoors and sports. We've got a heavy bag and speed bag in the garage, and a chin up bar, which he and his dad use.

He never played organized sports, but played baseball, football, warball, manhunt, etc. on a regular basis with his friends, and still does.

Video games aren't "evil" (if you choose the right games), just don't let them become obsessed with them. Set limits. My kid didn't watch TV, he was never interested, so an hour on a video game didn't seem excessive (I actually think they learn a lot of skills through video games.)

P.S. Also, don't mistake a 10 year old pre-pubescent chunky kid for a "fat" kid. Many boys go through that stage. I've had friends want to put their 10 or 11 year old boys on diets, but they hit puberty, shoot up in height and get tall and muscular.


21 posted on 07/31/2006 3:21:33 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: deaconjim

Thanks...the birth was great. I came home from Iraq on my R&R leave just in time to see my son born. Mom and baby are doing well.

You're right though, you have to scratch your head and wonder why a study like this was necessary. The Army is seeing the results of sedentary kids in a big way. The lowered Physical Fitness Test standards are depressing.


22 posted on 07/31/2006 3:21:38 AM PDT by strider44
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To: AngelesCrestHighway

Once I finished my morning paper route, my mom didn't see me until sunset. even at 10, I'd grab my fishing pole and gun, hop on my bike and be gone.

Nowadays kids need 24/7 organization & management.


23 posted on 07/31/2006 3:23:48 AM PDT by Toby06 (True conservatives vote based on their values, not for parties.)
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To: strider44

It sounds like you are on R&R from the real Physical Fitness Test. Thank you for your service.


24 posted on 07/31/2006 3:24:11 AM PDT by deaconjim
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To: Toby06

Or they get a time out in the corner....


25 posted on 07/31/2006 3:25:24 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: AngelesCrestHighway
Or they get a time out in the corner....

whereas we were told to get out of the house.

26 posted on 07/31/2006 3:26:56 AM PDT by Toby06 (True conservatives vote based on their values, not for parties.)
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To: strider44

You mean husky - Lots of kids are fat in preteens


27 posted on 07/31/2006 3:27:13 AM PDT by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
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To: strider44

When the summer came after months and months of rain in the Pacific Northwest, my folks could'nt find me unless they looked in the tops of the trees or down at the docks in Gig Harbor fishing.


28 posted on 07/31/2006 3:29:13 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: strider44
Play is good, but, remember, no cowboys and indians and no toy guns!

Soccor good. Football not good.

29 posted on 07/31/2006 3:48:42 AM PDT by perspicacitypalmer
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To: Admin Moderator

Is that link somewhere on our home page?

I can never seem to find it, so I just post vanities to be safe ;)


30 posted on 07/31/2006 3:50:32 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (A Conservative will die for individual freedom. A Liberal will kill you for the good of society.)
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To: perspicacitypalmer
Soccor good. Football not good.

No dodgeball and no games where someone might lose.

31 posted on 07/31/2006 3:51:11 AM PDT by freedumb2003 (A Conservative will die for individual freedom. A Liberal will kill you for the good of society.)
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To: strider44
In other news - men like women with big t*ts.

I don't.

32 posted on 07/31/2006 3:51:40 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: strider44
Play is good for children, study says

This is breath-takingly stupid!! It took a STUDY to determine this!!?? What's next, a study to determine if food is a healthy source of vitamins and minerals needed to sustain life!!?? Has our society REALLY gotten this stupid!!??
33 posted on 07/31/2006 3:55:35 AM PDT by DustyMoment (FloriDUH - proud inventors of pregnant/hanging chads and judicide!!)
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To: strider44
I cringe whenever I see a fat little kid. It's pathetic. Besides educating my boys as they grow, I must also ensure their attention to physical fitness. Why do so many parents neglect this? It's mind-boggling.

I totally agree. My son, who will be four in Sept., is outside everyday playing. My 16 month old is out with him whenever he's not taking a nap. (I can't believe he can climb the ladder and come down the slide on his own already on the playscape)

Parents who let their children get fat should be put on work programs cleaning the elderly, obese people's behinds who can't do it for themselves. Just so they know what their children are getting in for.

34 posted on 07/31/2006 3:56:29 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: strider44

Arbeit macht frei.


35 posted on 07/31/2006 4:03:50 AM PDT by Notwithstanding (OEF vet says: I love my German shepherd - Benedict XVI reigns!)
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To: dawn53
P.S. Also, don't mistake a 10 year old pre-pubescent chunky kid for a "fat" kid. Many boys go through that stage. I've had friends want to put their 10 or 11 year old boys on diets, but they hit puberty, shoot up in height and get tall and muscular.

I don't know where you live but around here 10 year old boys are fat. I mean fat. It's disgusting.

We went to a 4th of July celebration at a resort and these two boys about 13 sat down next to us. They both had to weigh about 200 pounds. My son said, "Look at those fat boys." I don't think they heard him. I was ambivalent about instructing him not to say anything. On one hand, if you are going to let your kids get that fat, they should hear it. On the other, it can be insulting. But, it's also a serious problem that if not addressed condemns them to a life of obesity.

36 posted on 07/31/2006 4:04:08 AM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: raybbr
Common ground... Yeah!

I could not agree more. When I was young, we spent every day outside doing some type of sport or activity or inside with very creative hobbies. Todays kids who mindlessly sit in front of some video screen or TV are just doing great harm to themselves.

37 posted on 07/31/2006 4:17:21 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
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To: raybbr

Well, I'm not talking obese, and 200 lbs is obese on a 13 year old. I'm referring to the "flab" that pre-pubescent boys get around their bellies and sometimes in their chests, that as they grow turns into muscle.

IMHO, parents are to blame for obese kids. If you don't buy junk food or give them money for junk food, they'll have to eat "good stuff." We have never brought sodas (or juice for that matter) into the house. If you're thirty...drink water, or an occasional glass of milk. We bought lots of fruit, no chips, and one package of cookies a week (when they're gone, they're gone, LOL.) We buy cereal, but low sugar kinds (cheerios, grapenuts). PB&J sandwiches were and still are a favorite snack (there again, you can limit the calories by using fruit spread and natural peanut butter.) String cheese is a favorite still. I must say, we were at an advantage because my son never was a "candy" eater...he just didn't seem to want candy, even at Halloween we'd have to throw away candy because it didn't get eaten.

I don't believe in "traditional" diets for kids because that can set them up for problems later in life...I do believe in providing good stuff for them to eat, and eliminating junk food from the grocery list, then promoting some sort of fun physical activity. We have a DDR (dance dance revolution) video game, and if I had an overweight kid, I'd sure get them playing that because it's lots of physical activity, but they don't know they're exercising.


38 posted on 07/31/2006 4:35:25 AM PDT by dawn53
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To: freedumb2003

...or injure themselves. And never, never keep score!


39 posted on 07/31/2006 5:38:16 AM PDT by perspicacitypalmer
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To: Toby06
****There was a cool show called "connections" a while back. Bear with me while I make a few 'connections' here. .. liberals are responsible for kids poor health.****

"Connections" was from the mid '70's, and a very cool program, but more than 'a while back' (just teasing). And you're right about liberals but IMO for the wrong reasons.

Yes, no doubt LIBERALS and their LAWYERS are the sole cause of all of todays ills in society. Because it's no longer 'safe' and the kids will have cardiacs at 23 as they weigh 375 pounds because if they venture outside 'to play' a lawsuit is waiting.

I won't even mention the fights we had amongst each other. Sheesh, today we'd all be in prison for Assault and Battery - thanks to LIBERALS.

40 posted on 07/31/2006 5:42:32 AM PDT by Condor51 (Better to fight for something than live for nothing - Gen. George S. Patton)
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