Daily Dish for Thursday 9/1

[Denise85]

Back-to-School Sports

Did you know that only one half of all young people in the United States participate in regular physical activity? According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 50 percent of America's youths aged 12 to 21 lead inactive lifestyles. Combined with the decline over the last few years in the number of schools requiring physical education, it is clear that the situation has gotten serious. Children are more at risk of developing diseases previously associated only with adults (such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease).

This school year, encourage your kids to try out for a sports team or to participate in regular intramural activities. Not only does consistent physical activity ward off obesity and illness, it also helps build discipline, self-esteem, character, and an overall sense of well-being.

Here are two tips to keep in mind before your child becomes involved in school sports:

Encourage fair play. Overly competitive parents and coaches can give organized sports a bad name. Make sure your child knows that games should be — whether he or she wins or loses.

Check up on safety. Before letting your child join any team, make sure the safety standards are up to snuff. Some programs may provide old equipment or fail to enforce rigorous safety standards. As a parent, it's up to you to keep a watchful eye on your child's sports programs