Do as I say not as I do!

“Study finds mums' healthy habits set the tone for toddlers” Great article in the Telegraph this morning!

 Port Macquarie mum Katie Davis with toddler Evie enjoys a day at Lighthouse Beach 

‘MOTHERS who switch off the TV and get outside are role models whose healthy habits are reflected by their toddlers, a study has found.

For each hour mum increases her physical activity, their child's play time increases by 16 minutes a day.

But if mum adds an hour of screen time, their child's sedentary viewing expands by eight minutes, the study found.

Researchers examining obesity prevention in Sydney's south-west found mum's screen time was "the only factor significantly associated with their child's screen time''.

The study, published in the Australian And New Zealand Journal Of Public Health, followed 242 local mums and their two-year-olds.

"In promoting physical activity and decreasing screen time and preventing childhood obesity we really need to look into mothers as role models,'' Dr Li Ming Wen, from the South Western Sydney and Sydney Local Health Districts said.’

Great idea, take the kids outside and play. Just don’t leave their side – stranger danger, make sure they are covered – skin cancer risks, make sure they get some sun- vitamin D deficiency, check that they have no allergies especially to grass, don’t let them play on hard surfaces – the jolting is no good for their joints ...... oh those studies, what did we do before studies?

Children when I was growing up were sent outside to ‘play’ and told to come in when it was dark. Most Mothers didn’t have scheduled exercise routines they just ran a home. Did this mean that kids didn’t play sport? No of course not! Personally I played Netball, Tennis, Soccer, Swam (training 3 days a week and time trials Saturday Mornings). My mother didn’t drive so I had to either walk or catch public transport when my Father was at work. My schedule was busier than most but everyone played something. We also had street cricket and footie (until the kid next door bought down the power lines) as well as the general imaginative play. When I was 4 the boy across the road made cement and put it all over my dress; I loved that dress.

When my children were growing up we were surrounded by bushland and a street full of kids. They would go from house to house to play and would go bush walking with which ever parent had the time. There was also a large sporting field just up a pathway so when the kids wanted to have their version of cricket or kick the footie around there was plenty of room. My girls danced instead of team sports but this kept them busy (and me, making a multitude of costumes). There were also parks with play equipment (something that was rare when I was growing up), the River not far and the beach. 

Water the Garden and the Kids

Being a full time working Mum my time for sport was limited, I seemed to spend most of my time cooking, cleaning, shopping and running them around (not watching TV). They were always encouraged to spend time outdoors which they embraced even though they had a playstation and a computer. My eldest daughter’s largest distraction was reading if you can call it a distraction. On occasions she just couldn’t put the book down that she was reading.

As Adults my children still spend time outdoors. They are both in a healthy weight range and consume very little junk food. My baby bike rides and goes to the gym, the eldest walks every day and also has a physically active job. My job now unfortunately involves sitting most of the time but I do walk regularly but I know I could do more. 

Our living environment these days is totally different; we no longer have the sports field or the bush. My Stepdaughter, her husband and their three children live on a farm with horses so their lives are constantly active outdoors. My baby wants to move to the country when she has children and my eldest doesn’t want kids. 

Let children be children. Let them explore, get dirty and pretend. Give them healthy food not junk, make soft drinks for special occasions and don’t teach them children’s versions of adult pastimes. Grab a friend and a takeaway coffee, a juice or milkshake for the kids and head to the park you will all be much happier. When they are old enough let them choose a sport to participate in; not only does this teach them to honour a commitment it teaches them reliability while giving them physical activity. Brownies, Scouts or the like will also teach them lifelong lessons as well as self sufficiency skills.

Team work!

The question I have for these researchers is how do parents of toddlers have all this spare time to watch television? I didn’t, my friends didn’t, my Mother didn’t.