Abby's

Abby's Magazine - November/ December 2014 | Page 33 Rule #1 Never use food as the focus of any children's event. Instead of a pizza party, have a bowling or cra party. at puts the focus on activity, not edibles. Rule #2 Set the right example. If you expect your children to be active, you'll need to be active too. "We as parents tend to look at it as little down time," said Bryant. "We're just as guilty as the children of sitting in front of the television." But none of this means packing your children off to the gym every day. And while a day on the ski slopes or at a skating rink is great, fitness can be plain old fun and games too. Any activity, from playing Simon Says to building pillow forts in the living room, counts in terms of vacation can lend themselves to all-day snacking. Combat that by setting and sticking to a schedule of meals and snacks. Even with these precautions, it's best to accept that children will eat more than normal during the coming weeks. at brings us how to handle – and increase – the number of calories going out. Rather than obsess over every morsel your child eats, especially if you've made reasonable efforts to foster moderation, encourage more physical activity to burn up those extra calories. burning calories. Even activities that normally quash fitness can be put to good use, including video games. Some games now have motion-sensing pads that children must move around on in order to play the game. Activity can also be meaningful. Carroll suggests bringing children to a homeless shelter or other charitable event where they can help out and start holiday traditions that aren't food-centered. "Kids are so full of energy this time of year that you've got to do something to redirect that energy to take some of the emphasis off the holiday treats, "she said.

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