Get ‘Em Up and Moving!Kids need at least an hour of exercise a day, according to new guidelines

- Expose children to a wide variety of physical activities. - Teach physical skills to help maintain lifetime health and fitness. - Encourage self-monitoring so youngsters can set their own goals. - Individualize intensity of activities. - Emphasize the importance of the process of doing your best rather than the product. - Be active role models.

Parents play a vital role in reaching these guidelines as well because “the single most important time to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary activities such as television watching and computer time is after school, between 3pm and 6pm,” Dr. Corbin states. Instead, he suggests parents need to help their kids find safe and enjoyable physical activities during this time. Dr. Corbin concludes, “The bottom line is that sedentary living contributes to obesity and chronic diseases later in life. Starting the activity habit early in life is crucial.” For more information about the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), visit www.naspeinfo.org. NASPE is part of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD). To order a copy of the new physical activity guidelines, visit www.aahperd.org or call (800) 321-0789. The cost is $16, $12 for NASPE/AAHPERD members. The stock number is 304-10276.