Posted on: Saturday, August 28, 2004
Let Olympians inspire fitness
Advertiser staff
Dennis Chai, an associate professor for the department of kinesiology and leisure science at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, said families can harness the spark of Olympic energy and parlay that into better physical fitness.
Advertiser library photo • Parents can encourage physical activity in children not only by modeling it themselves, but actively participating with them. Get out the Frisbee for the beach, or take them for a walk around the block. "Get the softball glove, and I'll throw you some grounders" is a great motivator, he said.
• Once children show interest on their own, do whatever you can to help them along. If they need a ride to the pool, arrange it. When they're excited about starting a new sport and make grandiose dreams, steer away from the naysaying, such as pointing out how hard an elite athlete's life might be. Go to their games. Make sure they have whatever equipment they need.
• Because the lure of Nintendo and computer games is so strong, daily doses of encouragement really help. Point out the stories of athletes (especially local ones) who overcame odds, such as Bryan Clay. "It's not a matter of size, but putting your mind to it" gives us all that rush of hope. • Good physical activity suits your individual taste, but remember, exercise is not supposed to be "fun," so don't sell it that way. When you're out in the hot sun, or missing a few balls that roll between your legs, it's easy to give up. "There's too much emphasis on 'fun,' " Chai said.
• Make physical activity a priority, like study time. Schedule it into your day, too. The recommendation is 30 minutes of moderate intensity daily.
• Keep an eye on champion athletes for inspiration. For once, the answer is to keep the TV on — at least, during the Olympics, and other events spotlighting athletic achievement. Watching these magnificent specimens of muscle mass actually helps us develop the right attitude, he said. "It's a motivating force."
The physical fitness of decathlete Bryan Clay could serve as a motivating force for kids and parents to get in better shape.
