Getting My Body Back Friday - 4 Ways to Help Your Child Become Physically Active and Have Fun!

With all the talk about the rise of childhood obesity how do you help your child overcome weight-challenges and have fun at the same time? The following tips will give you some ideas to begin. Then you can use your creativity to come up with a fresh list.

1) Go for a family bike ride

No matter the family size, having regular family bike rides is a great way to get your child engaging in physically activities. Riding a bicycle works the leg muscles and builds stamina especially if you add a few small hills in the mix.

2) Walk the nature trail

Walking through a nature trail will give your child the opportunity to become familiar with the different species of birds and plants while at the same time enjoying the tranquility of nature.

3) Swimming

Swimming is a great form of exercise and a great way for your child to also have some water fun. Incorporating water volleyball or simply throwing the ball back and forth between you and your child will not only create additional fun but bring into play other muscle groups into the exercise.

4) Family race

From time to time our children participate in a running race - the younger ones together, then the older ones. Running brings up the heart rate and can provide a great way of interactive fun.

Bonus tip: Combine all of the above and include some of your own to make a fun-filled day.

When children are encouraged to be active from a very young age it makes it easier to keep them involved in physically activity as they grow older. Enrolling your child in gymnastics is a great way to build a strong metabolism and good muscle tone. I've seen my children's body transform and remain toned even as they got older. Wish I had started when I was at their age.

Action Thursday : 4 Ways to Help Your Child Dream Big and Achieve Lifelong Success

Children learn to either dream big or adopt limited thinking from the environment and influence of those with who they are in constant association. As parents, when we remove the cap of limited thinking from our minds we allow our children the freedom to think and dream big.

Here are 4 ways which you can help, not only your child, but also yourself dream big.

1) Encourage your child

When your child comes to you and says, "Mom, I'd like to be a famous actress," you don't say, "That's nice dear but we could never afford to send you to acting school." Instead say, "That's great, dear. If that's what you truly want to do, when you're watching your favourite shows you can begin to memorize the lines and practice acting. We will find a way to make this happen for you."

This way, you're giving your child the encouragement she needs to dream big and an avenue through which she can begin to activate her dream which will allow the Universal power to draw to her what she needs to fulfill that desire.

2) Establish confidence

Help your child believe in himself because you believe in him. When you assure your child that you believe in him, even if at first he may not accept it for himself right now, the energy of your belief will begin to transfer onto your child. Finally, your child will be confident in his ability to do what he set out to do.

3) Develop a positive mindset

If your child begins to doubt herself, encourage her to have a positive mindset; that she can do this and that she will succeed. Suggest for her to create her own affirmations to keep her mind from becoming overrun with doubt. Share with her the success of others who've also used affirmations to help them succeed.

4) Choose friends wisely

Help your child understand the importance of surrounding himself with positive-minded friends who will encourage him to pursue his dream. You could say something like, "I would not choose your friends for you but you would want to surround yourself with people who also know what they want and are going in that direction. That way you can encourage them and they can do the same for you."

No matter what age your child is, she can cultivate the 'dream big' mindset to achieve great things in life and explore her talents and watch them grow and expand into their fullest potential. As you are helping your child, you'll be teaching yourself as well.

Parenting Children - 4 Ways to Help Your Child Discover, Explore and Develop Talents

Each of us was born with natural talents and abilities. As parents, when we help our children discover, explore and develop these talents it will save them years of trying to figure out what they love to do before they pursue in that direction.

1) Discover the talent

Some children find the things they enjoy at a very young age while others take a while and may seem to go from one thing to another. But as you observe your child, you'll see certain traits that are consistent. When your child shows interest in an area, provide encouragement to continue to engage more in the activity. You can also join in the fun as well making it more interesting.

2) Explore the talent

Provide the material needed for your child to explore more in this area. E.g. when our daughter Tamaralee was about a year and a half she took up art, something that she has faithfully pursued and desires to have her own art museum. We provide her with the materials necessary to continue with her passion and because Dad is also an artist as well he provides her with direction she needs to continue to explore and expand her talent.

3) Develop the talent

Once your child has shown passion about a subject, provide avenues through which he can develop that talent further, whether the child attends a class, finds 'how to' instructions on the internet, the library or from another source.

4) Don't push

As parents we want the best for our children to the point that we may tend to push them forward. No one wants to do something that someone else is pushing them to do and certainly our children should pursue their gifting willingly and joyfully. If it is a true passion, they will naturally pursue it without being told. As a matter of fact, you may have to ask them to set aside time to engage in other activities as well.

E.g. like our 11 year old daughter Gracelee who loves to read and tunes out the entire world when she does. Dad sometimes asks her to put the book down for a minute so she can hear what he has to say lol. We love her passion for reading but we'd also like a couple minutes of her time, you know :)

We are here on earth in this era with our unique talents not only to serve ourselves but planet earth. Our children also have their unique roles to play and their talents are embedded within them to help them efficiently fulfill this role. Let us help our children so they can live an enriched and fulfilled life.