A new report by the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics points out something of interest when it comes to explaining the increasing incidence of childhood obesity. Everyone is concentrating on eating healthier foods and increasing exercise, but this report comes to another conclusion.

The report states, “…some of the problems with obesity in America’s children may be related to households. More children are living in households where the cost of shelter is burdensome, conditions are crowded, or the housing is physically inadequate. The rate was 40% in 2005, compared with 37% in 2003. 5% of children ages four to 17 were reported by a parent to have definite or severe emotional or behavioral difficulties. Eighty-one percent of the parents consulted a health care provider or school staff member about their child’s difficulties, 40% reported that their child was prescribed medication for the problem, and 47% reported that the child had received non-drug therapy.”

There is no doubt that children are influenced by the household in which they live. If parents provide healthy foods, then children learn to eat healthy foods. If parents are active, children learn to be active. Yes, a part of the problem of obesity may be related to genes. But there is something else to consider- the household.

When houses are in neighborhoods which are less than desirable children are not allowed to play outdoors. They are kept inside, where according to the study cited above, the conditions are crowded. As a result, children do not move about and are not active. They watch video games or television. The schools are trying to help, but the real responsibility lies with parents and caregivers. The household, or places which provide care, do exert a great deal of influence. They need to use it to get our children moving.

Leisure time? Some of us wishfully think about it! Americans (myself included) have become so “busy” and “productive” that leisure time is an elusive dream we think about but never quite achieve. What to do?
When I was in college – and I hate to admit that this was in the 70’s – my academic minor was recreation. I remember studying how recreation services would be in huge demand in the future. The theory was that because of all the modern new conveniences people would have lots more time on their hands. Microwave ovens meant less time cooking; dishwashers meant less clean-up time; high-powered tools and lawn mowers meant faster chores; more convenience foods meant less time cooking; the world was changing fast. And WHAT were people going to do with all of their spare time? It was predicted that people would need new leisure activities to fill all of their spare time. I studied hard and prepared for the future….

Well, the future that my professors predicted never came to be. Our conveniences helped us get more done in less time and so we added more responsibilities instead of leisure time. Computers and cell phones made us accessible 24/7 with no way to shut the busy world out. As our American pace of life escalated, we even began to feel guilty about leisure time, thinking we were “wasting” time when we weren’t productive.

We need to reclaim our lives! The research clearly says it: busier lives create more stress and physical health suffers as a result. It’s no new news, but knowing it doesn’t seem to help us. We still keep going faster. How do we stop? For many folks, a health crisis makes them sit up and take notice. For some others, a feeling of despair, loss of control or feeling overwhelmed are triggers. This “busy” problem seems peculiar to Americans – so many other cultures get it right. And, what is “right”? What are the things that feed our souls and bodies? I think it is: spending time with family and friends every day; eating dinner together as a family; talking and sharing our dreams, struggles, experiences and ideas; making time to play by walking, playing ball, biking or whatever you enjoy; volunteering your time and giving back; reading for pleasure; gardening; listening to music or playing an instrument; art activities. There are so many possibilities! But, leisure time doesn’t normally happen by accident. In today’s world we need to be intentional. How about if I decide to be proud about my leisure time instead of feeling guilty? How about if you challenge friends and family to make more leisure time and create a healthy balance? How about if you and I do whatever it takes to have dinner together as a family? How about if we make relationships and time together a high priority? Would we reduce depression? Loneliness? Stress? Would our kids, spouses, family, friends feel more loved? Would it help us and others? Would we explore new things, learn more about ourselves and help make a better world?

What would happen if you turned off the television for a week? What might you have time for? Maybe you could do things you didn’t THINK you had time for. Maybe your quality of life would improve, doing things you enjoy. Maybe you could live your own REAL life instead of watching someone else live theirs on T.V. Why not try it as an experiment? Watch what happens! And, maybe when (or if) you turn the T.V. back on, you’ll want to limit T.V. (and computer) time to an hour or less a day.

Yup, we “got leisure time” alright. It’s ours to claim – we just forgot how. How are you claiming yours and what are you doing with it? Change a life by helping and encouraging others!

I have an awesome neighbor. The MacDonalds are a catholic family with five of the greatest kids you’d want to know. When our kids were little, I learned a great lesson from John, the dad. We were chatting and he mentioned that the kids were all doing their chores that Saturday morning. Now, the MacDonald kids were ages 4 – 13, so I asked, “what is Marie (the four year old) doing?” “Cleaning the toilet”, was his reply. I couldn’t believe it! “How can she possibly do that? She’s so little!” I said, incredulously. “Oh”, John said, “she doesn’t do a very good job right now. I show her what to do each week and she makes a bit of a mess in the process. I have to re-do it later. But, it won’t be long before she masters it and will actually be a help. And, she feels very proud of herself because she can help like the big kids”. I listened and learned from this wise dad. And, I’ve thought a lot about his words and the lesson.

Parents today often feel guilty about requiring their kids to do chores. And, it is hard work for parents to teach and supervise while kids learn and also complain. But, think of the big picture and long term rewards of consistently expecting kids to do their share of chores.

Just like little Marie, kids experience a sense of pride in their achievement when they finish a chore and experience a job well done. Kids also feel a sense of belonging when they contribute to the well-being of the family. Chores done together as a family create a bond and a common goal for family members. The MacDonald family taught me to plan a fun activity together after chores were done. John taught me that this delayed gratification created a good work ethic. He was right! “Many hands make light work” is what my Mom used to say. And, my Mom played great music that we all sang to during our chore times. When a family works together, parents can express thanks and appreciation to kids and tell them how much their help means to the whole family. When this training begins early, it becomes a part of family life that strengthens the family bond.

Chores train kids to think about the well-being of the whole family, not just their own wants and needs. Chores help us to raise less selfish and self-indulgent kids. Responsible kids. Dependable kids. Confident kids. Kids learn that helping and giving is part of every day life, and it becomes a lifelong habit. And, when family members work in close proximity, the talking and cooperation enhances social skills.

In this age when sedentary kids are becoming obese, chores provide another important benefit. They get kids off the couch and active. Their bodies are moving and they are burning extra calories. They are participating in life instead of observing. They are living their own life instead of watching someone else live theirs. They are learning skills they’ll need as adults. These are gifts only we can give to our kids, but it’s not easy. They whine. They complain. They think their parents are mean because their friends don’t have to do chores. They procrastinate. But, I want to encourage all parents who are in the trenches.

I know how hard it is. It seems easier to do it yourself and keep the peace. It’s hard to teach the kids, supervise them, and put up with complaining. But, don’t give up! My kids are now out of the house and my job is done. I have two great kids that I am very proud of and who now thank me for the very things they protested so loudly. As adults, they see what has happened to those kids whose parents indulged them – and it’s not pretty. ”Sarah is just lazy”, ”Brad doesn’t know how to do anything.” “Mary Ann expects everyone to wait on her”, “Nick is so selfish”, “Emily has no self-confidence”, are the some of the comments I hear. FINALLY, I am seeing the pay-off for those difficult years of parenting. So, don’t lose heart! Persevere! You are doing your kids a huge favor but it will take time to see the results. And, in the words of Winston Churchill to England in World War II, “never, never, never give up“!

Self-esteem is a person’s sense of self-worth. It’s how people define themselves which in turn influences their attitudes, motivations and behaviors throughout life. Self-esteem can be negatively influenced by a lack of self-confidence, independence and a sense of personal identity. Constant criticism and chronic self-doubt can also harm self-esteem.

According to a report in the January issue of Pediatrics, researchers collected data from over 1,500 white, black, and Hispanic children at age 10 and followed them for four years. Self-esteem was measured using a standard psychological tool, body mass was calculated from height and weight, and tobacco/alcohol use was reported via questionnaire. The data showed that self-esteem was not significantly different between obese and non-obese children at 10 years of age. But by age 14, significantly lower self-esteem was observed among obese boys and girls of all races. But the effect of obesity on self-esteem in white and Hispanic girls was significantly greater than it was in black girls. In all of the teens, low self-esteem was associated with feelings of sadness, loneliness, and nervousness. Additionally, the obese children were more likely to use tobacco and alcohol.

The chief investigator says the findings have implications for psychological well-being. “Our findings and [those of] others indicate that early adolescence is a critical time for obese children,” says Richard Strauss, MD, director of the Childhood Weight Control Program and assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “Because this is when they’re developing their sense of self-worth.”

It is very important that parents watch for signs of social withdrawal and start to work on the situation before it becomes a huge problem; possibly life threatening. Parents of an obese child can improve their child’s self esteem by emphasizing the child’s strengths and positive qualities rather than just focusing on their weight problem. The aim in managing weight is to be healthy. This means having a healthy lifestyle which includes exercise not just a focus on weight loss. Encourage your child to play sports that they like and do well at. Make it a family event; walking and bike riding as a family can be excellent exercise and healthy for everyone.

As an owner and operator of a children’s sports and recreation facility, I see the obstacles that overweight children face daily. That’s why I created, GYMTRIX. GYMTRIX programs give kids a healthy start to a lifetime of physical activity and fitness! This life-long habit of physical activity will give kids a hedge against obesity. They teach the physical literacy skills needed to understand movement. Children feel more confident and join in the game on their own, instead of staying on the sidelines.

Health care is a big issue in the U.S. right now, but a bigger issue ought to be the declining health of U.S. citizens due to preventable causes. It is alarming to me that so many people want the government to be responsible for their health rather than take the steps to become healthy. Many Americans set out to ruin their health by smoking, drinking in excess, eating poorly, not exercising, etc. and then want the government to make sure they have a health care plan for the inevitable time when their irresponsible lifestyle makes them sick.

Although the U.S. already spends more on health care than any other nation in the world, we don’t have much to show for it. We lag behind Japan and most of Europe in life expectancy. Two decades ago, 10 countries ranked higher in life expectancy than we did. Today, 41 do! Twice as many Americans over age 50 are diagnosed with heart disease, arthiritis and cancer as their European peers, and U.S. women are twice as likely to have a stroke as women in Europe. U.S. men are 60 percent more likely to suffer stroke than European men! Researchers attribute these striking differences to Europeans’ healthier lifesyles and better disease prevention, the centerpiece of many European countries’ health care systems.

We need to place our health before health care and make prevention a priority. Unfortunately, prevention is too often neglected in our treatment-oriented, inequitable, for-profit system. I was in recent conversation with an acquaintance who was suffering from multiple gastro-intestinal problems and missing a lot of work. I have been suggesting for about a year that her diet of highly processed foods was probably the problem. She has undergone every test the doctors can give her, and they have all come back inconclusive. This women has spent thousands of health care dollars and countless hours of her time (and her employers time) trying to “get fixed” when it was in her power all the while. In despair, she has finally decided to try changing her diet as a last resort. And you know what? She is regaining her health. Good thing she didn’t undergo abdominal surgery which was the next step for the doctors to medically “fix” her.

We know what we need to do: Eat a low-fat, high fiber, low sodium diet; exercise regularly; use sunscreen; don’t smoke; build healthy relationships; reduce stress. A recent New England Journal of Medicine article revealed that while genetics, social circumstances and health care play a role, the greatest opportunity we have to improve our health and live longer is our personal behavior. And the good news is – this opportunity transcends economic levels. You don’t need to be rich to engage in physical activity. You don’t need to be rich to make better food choices. You don’t need to be rich to spend time with friends and family. You don’t need to be rich to stop smoking and reduce alcohol consumption. Anyone of any economic level has the opportunity to improve their health and disease prevention.

Making better lifestyle choices empowers people and gives us a sense of control over our life and health. It really feels good! When we improve our lifestyle we feel better physically, mentally, emotionally and we are more social as a result. It increases our quality of life all day long, every day. Physical activity is fun, and eating what healthy Europeans typically eat – fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, olive oil, wine, goat cheese and dark chocolate – is pleasurable.
Obviously, good medical care is important and life-saving. But, so many of us can avoid needing to have our lives ”saved” by simply doing what works. Having the knowledge doesn’t help us unless we actually use it for change. Or, as Nike says, “just do it.” You’ll be glad! How are you changing?

Much has been written about the problems of obese and overweight children and the health risks they will face as adults. The most common fear is the increased risk of type 2 diabetes. But research suggests that it is not just about the future. The risks are very real today. Dr Susan Yanovski , the director of obesity and eating disorders at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases was quoted by the Associated Press in 2005 as saying “… kids and adults who are overweight are already having problems with their mobility, fractures and joint pain.”

A study which was lead by her husband, Dr Jack Yanovski, discovered what might seem obvious. Those who are overweight are more likely to have problems with fractures than someone who is not carrying around an extra 10 or 20 pounds. The Yanovski’s research studied 227 overweight children and 128 who were normal weight. The study showed that 13% of the overweight kids had at least one broken bone at some time in the lives. On the other hand, the normal weight children fared much better. Less than 4% had a broken bone.

To illustrate the point let me share a story. I am a runner, do strength training and flexibility exercises on a regular basis. In addition to my work as a physical education professional, I also play the cello in the symphony. One day on my way to orchestra practice, I decided to carry my cello about 15 pounds with the instrument and the case) up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. By the time I reached the top of the stairs my knees hurt and I was winded. That surprised me considering that I am in excellent physical condition.

Now imagine how hard it would be to be to carry around an extra 15 pounds, like my cello, every day. It’s no wonder that those who are overweight have muscle, bone or joint pain… especially knee pain. The extra weight makes it difficult to be active and the less active a child or adult is the less they move, the more pain they experience. It is a cycle that must be broken… so that bones are not!

Everybody wonders why kids are getting fatter and what to do about it. The good news is that with a little thought and the courage to buck American trends, parents can take control. And, it begins with baby.

Where infants are concerned, America is considered a ‘low touch” society. In many other cultures, babies are held for hours, stroked, and carried close to the bodies of their mothers. In ours, babies spend lengthy periods alone in cribs; we fear that unless they’re allowed to “self-soothe”, they’ll be spoiled and grow up dependent. But, research shows that socialization skills begin in babyhood, and babies that are held often feel secure and develop into confident, independent adults. American infants are more likely to be “containerized” than carried body-to-body. Containers isolate and restrict babies but research shows that babies need mega-doses of socialization and movement for brain development.

How Americans love our containers! Recent evidence indicates infants are spending upwards of sixty waking hours a week in things. In high chairs and walkers. Playpens and portable cribs. Plastic seats, bouncy seats, and seats that swing. Car seats that convert to carriers. And we push them in strollers until they’re four or five years old! All of this translates into little time spent holding, playing with, or simply touching our babies. And, little time for babies to get the movement experience they need. We unthinkingly teach a sedentary lifestyle from babyhood!

Babies need to move (all day long) for the sake of their motor and cognitive development. When they spend too much time containerized, they never strengthen their muscles – to lift and turn their heads, to push up on their arms, to develop balance, stablility, and motor skills. Early movement experiences are essential to the neural stimulation needed for healthy brain development. Touch and movement spark the neurons in a baby’s brain to grow and branch out, making baby smarter.

Adults assume that until an infant is able to creep and play that movement experiences are severely limited. But that’s just not so! There are many ways babies can move and play without the ability to transport themselves from place to place. Babies experiment with movement all day long – unless their movement is restricted by containers. Solitary confinement for babies? Think about it! Babies need freedom of movement to practice and develop fine and gross motor skills.

Parents only want the best for their children. As such, they’ve been duped by the claims of infant software (”lapware”), CDs with “special” music (Baby Einstein – now proved to be detrimental), and flashcards in multiple languages. In our high-tech, fast-paced society, we turn readily and hopefully to the latest gadgets and gear promised to give our babies a “head start” on development. Research shows that NO babies under age two should view television at all, and viewing should be severely limited after that. The simple truth is that babies don’t need fancy gadgets, gear and technology. The best we have to offer them is what their brains were “hardwired” for before birth. It’s free and accessible to all. It is touch and movement and play. The best that we can do for babies to to interact with them as much as possible. Talk to your baby all day long – sing, interact face to face, and make funny faces. Swing them in your arms, carry them around the house, describing the things that you see together. Help them explore by touching new things with different textures. Bang pots with wooden spoons. There are so many simple ways to help your baby socialize and learn about the world around him. And, these are the proven methods to increase brain function. No fancy or expensive apparatus can substitute for time with you, the parent. Be smart – save the clutter and expense of containers and apparatus and start a college account for your baby!

Americans are teaching the sedentary habits that lead to obesity by restricting movement when babies should be learning about movement. If we want to change the grim outlook on obesity for kids, we need a thoughtful solution. And, it begins with our babies. By being a smarter parent you will raise a smarter, healthier baby. Please help spread the good news, or share the ideas that work for you and your baby!

Note: I always avoid product endorsements, but can’t resist this one. If you are a parent who wants to learn how to teach your baby about movement, please check out www.gymtrix.net This is a DVD series for parents of babies and also for toddlers. These are not DVDs for babies to watch. They are for parents to watch and then teach the movement activities to their babies.

I don’t have a Wii. Should I? What am I missing out on? Is it something I “need?” I’ve been watching the Wii craze carefully because of my interest in sports and physical activity. And, I’ve interviewed lots of Wii participants to get their input and to help decide if the Wii is for me.

The Wii is lots of fun! It gets sedentary people off the couch and active. It gets families playing together and being together. What’s not to like about that? It is definitely a better choice than watching television or playing computer games by yourself. And, the Wii might just get kids interested in a sport they haven’t tried before. It could get them started on playing a real sport in real life.

But, the Wii isn’t really real. It is great entertainment – no question. But, it’s not a substitute for good motor development or for learning real sport skills. People can “cheat” the Wii. Smart motivated players can figure out ways to sit on the couch and still score. You can’t do that in real life sports. The Wii doesn’t really require good technique, agility or coordination. It doesn’t teach accurate depth perception, speed, or timing for real life sports. So, a kid who only plays the Wii won’t learn the motor skills he/she needs to be confident and successful in physical activities. The Wii could give a false sense of achievement that sets a kid up for disappointment when he tries real sports in the real world.

Injuries from playing the Wii seem to be popping up everywhere. That is no surprise. When a sedentary person suddenly becomes VERY active, the body usually protests. The Wii is lots of fun and people keep playing past the time when they should stop. Overuse injuries happen whenever people do the same movement repetitively for a long time. The muscles, tendons and ligaments become inflamed and we feel pain. Whenever we move our bodies, we can injure ourselves. We can fall, collide with objects, turn our ankles, or strain our muscles and ligaments. Sedentary Wii users are finding out what athletes have always known – it goes with the territory.

The newest Wii games are fitness boards. Good for getting sedentary people off the couch. Not a good substitute for a real workout. Building muscle groups correctly requires good technique and the Wii won’t get you there. See a trainer or use a good video program for that. But, use the Wii to have fun and get active. Use it to supplement your other activities.

So, the answer for me? I don’t need a Wii. At least, I don’t need to buy one. I look forward to playing with a friend’s Wii, but I like real. I like to be outside in the fresh air when I run. I like to feel a real ball hit my real racket when I play tennis. I like to use my core muscle groups when I do my strength workout. I like to feel a real ball when I bowl and hear the real pins fall. I’ll spend my money on real things. I love all of the sensory experiences of real. The sounds, smells, feelings, sights. But, I won’t turn down an offer to try the Wii and have fun playing with friends. What’s your Wii experience?

The following information is taken from an article on youth sports from Athletic Business Magazine, November 2006, written by Tommi Paavola:

1. Let kids be kids
Kid’s lack of recreational activity and the alarming trend of early specialization in sports are the cause of concern among parents and child development professionals. Physical educators recommend that general sport training is best for athletic skill development, weight management and general fitness. It is a fact that excellent sport programs for children require more profound knowledge and different tools than creating programs for adults. Children are not small adults! Too often, adults design athletic programs according to the goals and abilities of adults. GYMTRIX is designed specifically to meet the physical, social and emotional needs of children.

2. Lay a foundation of skills for the future
Coaches are often tempted to teach and practice game-specific skills more than general athletic skills, since game-specific skills are the ones that determine which team wins. However, general athletic skills, such as jumping, landing, kicking, throwing, twisting or hopping lay the foundation for becoming a successful athlete. Narrowing the variety of movement skills before the athletic foundation has been laid can risk a child’s long-term development and suffocate his or her true potential. Overuse injuries are often the result of excessive game-specific training at the expense of general fitness and motor skills. GYMTRIX teaches the critical skills necessary for movement success throughout life.

3. It must be fun
The importance of fun is often neglected or misunderstood in youth sports. It is striking how much better one learns something if one has fun doing it. Emotions are important to learning and motivation; so the more fun, the more learning takes place. “Fun” can be defined as a balanced combination of skill and challenge that provides a deep feeling of inner satisfaction. GYMTRIX provides this critical balance of learning and fun for all ages.

4. Long-term development, not short-term success
Many sport programs emphasis winning a game over the good of the child. The greatest dangers to long-term athletic development are premature specialization, high-intensity training or too many competitions. Lack of fundamental athletic skills or training at too high an intensity can stunt the development of a young athlete. GYMTRIX focuses on total skill development, preparing children for success in any sport.

5. Safety
A safe atmosphere is a prerequisite for learning, success and fun. Beyond physical safety, mental and social safety are just as important to success. Mental and social safety thrive in an atmosphere where there is freedom to learn at one’s own pace. GYMTRIX allows children to learn at their own pace without comparison or competition with others.

Non-programmed recreational play is the most important time to develop motor skills and to help ensure an athletic and healthy future. Playtime with friends might be more beneficial for children than any organized activity offered. GYMTRIX promotes playtime learning that is fun and forms the foundation for an active future!

By John Casey, WebMD Feature

Parents are starting to catch on to the idea that everyone needs exercise, even infants and toddlers.

Energetic and rambunctious, 18-month-old Aiden pushes his toy stroller around a playground in New York City. “I really try to encourage him to move around as much as possible,” says Aiden’s mother. “Before we started coming to the playground every day, he would be whiney and clinging after breakfast. But now, even just 10 or 15 minutes of him walking around makes him calmer and more likely to take a nap. We try to get that much twice a day, at least.”

That’s exactly what the authors of Active Start, a set of exercise guidelines for babies which were put out by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), want to hear more parents saying. According to these pediatric experts, parents who use strollers, playpens, car and infant seats for hours at a time, may be delaying their child’s physical and mental development. “The earlier infants, toddlers, and preschool children get exposure to daily movement and exercise, the better the likelihood of healthy development in later life,” says Jane Clark PhD, professor and chair of the department of kinesiology at the University of Maryland.

Regular exercise causes the kind of development that may be critical for health in later life. Infancy and the toddler years are the time that the brain is developing pathways and connections to the muscles. Children who do not get enough exercise may miss out on the chance to make the strong kinds of brain-muscle connections that make physical activity easier and more enjoyable. As the child grows and matures, it is that physical competence that makes exercise more likely to become a life-long habit. And that’s important for all kids, not just those who will become gifted athletes.

“For babies, exercise is protection against obesity not just now, but as they grow up,” says Lori Rosello, MD, a pediatrician in private practice in New York. “If kids enjoy exercise as babies, they will be more active as adults. That’s not just because it is a learned behavior, though it can be, but also because their brains have incorporated the physical skills that make exercise more enjoyable.”

March 19, 2008 Grand Rapids, MI: Doreen Bolhuis, the creator of GYMTRIX and a nationally recognized physical education professional was named one of the “50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan” by the Grand Rapids Business Journal. Doreen has been influential in many ways throughout the community. But perhaps her greatest influence is because she has created a business and programs geared to creating confidence and self-esteem in children through physical fitness. With 35 years of experience in physical education, she is helping to lead the fight to reduce childhood obesity.

“So many children today simply do not have any physical skills. They lack basic eye-hand coordination, motor skills, eye-foot coordination and balance. It’s not as though these skill are difficult, but we do not take the time to teach them. Instead, schools provide sub-standard or limited programs and activities. Children flapping their arms around to hip hop music, or simply running around is not the answer. Yes, it does burn calories. But, it does not teach the basic skills that kids need to learn.”

Physical Literacy, according to Bolhuis, is a comprehensive set of physical skills which enable children to engage in any physical activity. Just as children need to learn their ABCs before they can read and be academically literate, they need skills to be “physically literate.”

In an effort to help parents and teachers fight the epidemic of childhood obesity and be proactive, Bolhuis has launched GYMTRIX, a series of DVD programs to teach the important basic skills needed to keep children off the sidelines and get them more active. In addition Bolhuis knows that the most important weapon is knowledge. Along with Cynthia Kay, also named one of the “50 Most Influential Women in West Michigan,” Bolhuis provides information at www.howtopreventchildhoodobesity.com.

“We must seriously address obesity now. Sedentary children become sedentary adults. The time to learn skills for life-long health is infancy and childhood,” Bolhuis states. “If children do not develop motor skills, kinesthetic awareness, coordination and agility at a young age they are disadvantaged when faced with the challenge of physical participation.”

Excerpts (quotes) from a G.R. Press feature on Steve Glass, Ph.D. in exercise physiology

“Move! We’ve got to get people moving! You’ve got to move your body if you don’t want to lost muscle and bone,” says Steve Glass, Ph.D. in exercise physiology. “It doesn’t matter what you’re doing. You don’t have to be on a treadmill– you can be walking in the woods, for example.”

Don’t blame your age for your creaky knees and spare tire, Glass says. Blame your couch. “You spent the past 20 years of your life doing less and less, he says. “You are putting on fat easier, your bones are weaker. It’s not aging. “Inactivity carries the same health risk as smoking, in terms of heart disease,” Glass says. “If we can get people just a little bit more active, that’s so much better than no exercise at all. If inactive people just boost their activity into the moderate range – exercising three times a week for 20 minutes – it makes a big difference.

GYMTRIX starts people moving in infancy and keeps them moving through toddler, preschool, elementary school and adult years. Learn the skills for an active life with GYMTRIX! You’ll have fun and KEEP MOVING!

by Doreen Bolhuis, Creator of GYMTRIX

GYMTRIX is ideal for activity breaks and can even be used in the classroom for this. Research indicates that focus time for kids (and adults) is limited to 20 – 40 minutes depending on the person, time of day and other factors. An activity break or 5-10 minutes after a focused learning time accomplishes several things:

1. reboots the brain for the next learning session by stimulating brain chemicals and connections
2. provides the physical benefits of exercise such as lowering blood pressure, increasing heart rate (this wakes kids up!), producing endorphins, serotonin and dopamine (feel-good brain chemicals)
3. helps in obesity prevention by establishing a lifestyle of activity
4. teaches physical skills (physical literacy) that kids need to be active
5. increases confidence (confidence comes from skill acquisition)
6. teaches kids foundational skills so that when they attend P.E. class the teachers can work on more advanced concepts

GYMTRIX can also be used for indoor recess and before and after school learning activities.

by Doreen Bolhuis, creator of GYMTRIX

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 23, Grand Rapids, MI: The problems are the same, from day care facilities in Chicago to schools in Bethlehem. How do you provide a curriculum that teaches children how to be physically active and lays the foundation for a healthy adult life? More importantly, how do you accomplish that in a war-torn area?

Paidia International Development is a nonprofit that is at work in the Bethlehem community. Their Impact Program works with youth to teach non-violence, leadership and environmental care. The Stepping Stones Program is helping the local developmentally delayed population develop their motor and cognitive skills. Through both of these programs, as well as others, Paidia is providing the Bethlehem area with much needed education and recreation that is so lacking in this historic area.

A representative of Paidia, Erich Strehl said “Recreation is not a priority in a war-torn area, food and shelter are. That is why there is a lack of programming. However, we know that children need to build skills; eye-hand coordination, motor skills, agility and so on.” Strehl connected with Doreen Bolhuis, the creator of GYMTRIX™ for a solution.

Bolhuis, a former physical education teacher and owner of a recreation and sport facility, developed GYMTRIX™ to help combat the growing problem of obesity.

“When I developed the curriculum I was really focused on the U.S., but the issues are the same the world over. Children are not taught the physical skills that they need to grow into healthy adults. In addition, children who do not have physical activity are at risk for depression, lower cognitive function, low self esteem and are often socially isolated,” said Bolhuis.

Paidia is using the GYMTRIX™ DVDs to educate their staff so that they can use the activities with the children. The organization began using the program with preschool children, some of which are developmentally disabled. Now it is expanding to work with babies and toddlers. Strehl said, “A lot of the programs we looked at provided a weekend or one time training. This program provided a complete curriculum. It is comprehensive and has longevity. When we provide recreation and education, we improve our community.”

Here in the U.S., the GYMTRIX™ DVD curriculum was launched at the National Association for the Education of the Young Child in September 2007. The program is the result of over 20 years of experience with over 80,000 children in the West Michigan area in Bolhuis’s sport and recreational facility.

At the conference, attendees from India, Ecuador, and Taiwan, along with those from Grand Rapids, Chicago, and New Orleans, adopted the program to help increase physical activity in the day care and school setting.

Today, many teachers are struggling with physical education curriculums for children. This is especially critical since the National Association for Sport and Physical Education recently released new physical activity guidelines. These guidelines include the amount of physical activity that children need during the school day. For the first time there are guidelines for babies and toddlers. Bolhuis’s GYMTRIX™ meets and exceeds these guidelines.

GYMTRIX is a trademark of FitSmart Productions, LLC. For more information please visit www.gymtrix.net. Or find more information at www.howtopreventchildhoodobesity.com

From the Journal of Health, Physical Education and Recreation

After reviewing some 1,220 abstracts and more than 850 articles, a 13-member panel of experts has concluded that youth between the ages of six and 18 “should participate every day in 60 minutes of more of moderate to vigorous physical activity that is enjoyable and developmentally appropriate.” Examples of such activity include jumping, sports that include batting or kicking, walking, etc. The recommended activity level may be achieved cumulatively, rather than in a single session, through a combination of activities at various times throughout the day.

Physical activity can also be increased by reducing sedentary activities such as watching television, using computer and video games, and talking on the telephone, which should occupy less than two hours per day. The panel looked at research evidence showing how physical activity affects various areas of health in youth, specifically weight, adiposity, cardiovascular health, asthma, mental health, academic performance, injuries, and musculoskeletal health. The panel’s literature review and recommendations were published in the June 2005 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.

GYMTRIX programs provide enjoyable, developmentally appropriate physical activities for every age group. GYMTRIX can be used throughout the day to promote physical activity and challenges for skill learning!! -Doreen Bolhuis, creator of GYMTRIX

Journal of Physical Education and Recreation, March 2006

Balance has a direct relationship to health at every age and it is important to teach balance activities throughout life. Good balance enhances a child’s ability to participate in a variety of sports and thus contributes to the development of skills that can lead to lifelong physical activity.

The ability to safely right oneself can prevent a fall, and the ability to land properly can minimize the injury from a fall. Basic tumbling skills such as forward and backward rolls, cartwheels, leaps and jump turns can all help to develop skills related to regaining balance while the body is in motion. Additionally, the practice of walking a balance beam can help increase children’s balance skills. Balance training should begin early. Children can and should learn balance skills at every age, beginning in infancy.

Regular physical activity is important throughout life, but a lack of confidence related to balance can have a negative effect on a person’s decision to be active. People with greater confidence in their ability to remain active without falling or becoming injured are more likely to participate in healthy physical activity. Maintaining balance is necessary whether or not one is moving and human movement requires continual change in posture to accommodate the change in body’s center of gravity.

Maintaining balance involves the senses, the brain and nervous system, and muscular action. The fluid-filled semicircular canals in the inner ear detect movement by sensing changes in the flow of the fluid. The eyes and proprioceptors in skin, muscles, and joints also send information to the brain. After split-second integration, the brain sends nerve signals to the skeletal muscles to make adjustments so that the body remains balanced. Strength and flexibility are necessary for balance control because when the body is in danger of falling, fast movements of the legs, arms, and torso are usually needed to reposition the body to prevent the fall. These balance components can be improved through proper training.

Incorporating balance activities into an exercise program can help maintain the necessary muscle strength, flexibility, and confidence needed to have good balance throughout life. Beginning in infancy, balance training should be a part of an ongoing physical activity program.

GYMTRIX offers balance programs for every age, beginning in infancy and continuing through toddler, preschool and elementary years. Regular participation in these balance activities will help children to improve and maintain good balance throughout life! by Doreen Bolhuis, creator of GYMTRIX

Excerpts from Daily Herald Staff Writer, Hilary Shenfeld

Ever since Anthony Avala could walk, he’s been on the move. Anthony, now 2 ½ years old, spends hours each day turning somersaults, walking on a low balance beam, jumping on a trampoline, catching a ball or otherwise being active.

“We don’t want to be sitting around all day watching TV. We want to be active,” said Anthony’s dad, David Zavala, who is a gymnastics director and lets Anthony use the equipment. More kids should be like Anthony, according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, which for the first time released exercise guidelines for children age 5 and younger. The association says babies, toddlers and preschoolers need to spend up to two hours every day in active pursuits.

Parents fail to realize how much time little ones spend in car seats, strollers, bouncy chairs, exersaucers and playpens, or watching TV and playing video or computer games. “The numbers showed that children were getting less activity in their lives and parents seemed to think they were very active, said Jane Clark, chairman of the kinesiology department at the University of Maryland.

Activity should be fun – anything from climbing on a toy to chasing a friend, bouncing a ball or riding a tricycle. An early start will lay the foundation for a lifetime of physical activity, help kids learn motor skills and even foster brain development, the association says. “If you don’t start out in a life of physical activity, then you’re not likely to end up in a life of physical activity,” Clark said.

Parents shouldn’t necessarily time how long their kids exercise, but should try to incorporate activity into everyday life. If you integrate it into a child now, it will become more natural later. There is a huge tendency to neglect a child’s movement capabilities. Too many children are developing bad habits very young, where instead of going outdoors and engaging in physical activity, they are sitting in front of TV screens and computer screens. Children who begin movement learning while in diapers are more advanced than their peers later on, both physically and socially.

GYMTRIX programs get kids active beginning in infancy. GYMTRIX is the FUN way to get an early start for an active life!

(From the Journal of Physical Education and Recreation, April 2007)

Lifestyles such as a lack of physical activity, obesity, and high-fat diets are major causes for the development of type 2 diabetes. The good news is that all these conditions are mostly avoidable. Practicing healthy lifestyles that include increasing physical activity levels, maintaining desirable body weight, and choosing low-fat diets can significantly lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

There is strong evidence that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by an increase in physical activity even in high-risk diabetic individuals. The Diabetes Prevention Program had more than 3,000 high-risk non-diabetic individuals randomly assigned to following three groups: (a) exercise, (b) drug, and© control. The exercise group performed at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. The drug groups took 860 mg of metformin (a suppressor of glucose production) twice daily. The control group did not receive any treatment. The research was a longitudinal study lasting more than two years. The exercise and the drug groups were found to have a 58 percent and 31 percent lower incidence of diabetes, respectively, than the control group.

Regular exercise has a long-lasting effect on improved insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes, and some benefits can appear even after comparatively short periods of regular exercise. Additional benefits of exercise include a better control of blood pressure, a decline in the LDL level (the “bad cholesterol), and a facilitation of weight management and general well-being.

Even though studies have shown that physical activity can have a positive impact on type 2 diabetes, children may be missing out on participating in physical activity due to declining physical education in schools. As a result, encouraging a lifelong physically active lifestyle should be the top priority in the joint efforts among parents, schools and medical professionals to help reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes. With clear scientific evidence of the positive role of physical activity in enhancing glucose transport, one may question why so much time is spent on the secondary medical treatment of diabetes rather than on the primary lifestyle preventive approach to diabetes – which is active engagement in physical activity!

GYMTRIX teaches kids an active lifestyle that will have a lifelong impact on good health!

W.H Brown and colleagues set out to develop an observational system for assessing physical activity in preschool children. In their study, they found that the four most frequent physical activities (from most to least) were sitting/squatting, lying down, standing, and walking. Running was a distant fifth activity for the children observed in this study. This research system is a tool researchers may use to better understand preschool-aged children’s physical activity and how physical activity is linked to childhood obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.

A significant finding in this study is that children spend a great deal of their time at preschool in sedentary or stationary activities.

GYMTRIX programs provide a complete curriculum of physical activities for teachers to use in the classroom! GYMTRIX programs are progressive and include activities for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and elementary ages. Preschools that use GYMTRIX programs will give children a hedge against obesity and promote lifelong physical activity.

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 77, 167-176

A recent article in the Journal of Physical Education, Recreation and Dance addresses the importance of “activity breaks” for students during the school day.

“Activity breaks can be as short as five minutes or as long as 30 minutes. They include everything from recess to classroom time that is used to engage students in physical activity. Pellegrini and colleagues (1995) studied Japanese school children who received a 10 – 15 minute activity break every hour. This group concluded that activity breaks spread throughout the day help to improve attention and decrease behavior issues often associated with lack of focus in the classroom. Other research has shown that extra activity breaks during the day may increase physical activity levels outside of school. Other than physical education, activity breaks are most students’ only source of physical activity during the school day. For this reason, activity breaks must be an integral part of a school’s overall curriculum.”

GYMTRIX DVD’s provide the perfect curriculum for activity breaks in preschools, day cares and in K–5 schools! The GYMTRIX curriculum can be used by classroom teachers to provide activity breaks from 5 – 30 minutes. It is the healthy way to boost the brain power of students for focus, attention and learning!
by Doreen Bolhuis, Creator of GYMTRIX

Few people will be surprised by a link between obesity and depression, but a study last year quantified it as never before (Archives of General Psychiatry, July 2006). Based on a survey of 9,125 adults in the United States, researchers linked obesity with a 25 percent greater likelihood for mood and anxiety disorders including depression.

Perhaps even more disturbing is a recent study that found a link between obesity and cognitive function (Neurology, Oct. 10, 2006). The researchers gathered data from 2,223 healthy adults in 1996 and 2001. They found a significant association between higher body mass index (BMI) and lower cognitive function. Although the cause is not known, the head of the study, Maxime Cournot, of Toulouse University Hospital, speculated that the cardiovascular effects of obesity may damage arteries in the brain, or that hormones associated with obesity may damage brain cells.

On the positive side, a study of 460 surviving participants of the Scottish Mental Survey of 1932 has significantly linked physical fitness with better cognitive aging.

GYMTR!X programs give kids a healthy start to a lifetime of physical activity and fitness! This life-long habit of physical activity will give kids a hedge against obesity and improve cognitive function!
-Blog by Doreen Bolhuis, Creator of GYMTR!X

The Surprising Link Between Sports and Success
By Linda Marsa, Family Circle Magazine 4-23-2002

Extensive research shows that girls who are involved in athletics boost their self-esteem, improve their physical fitness, do better academically, are less likely to drop out of school do drugs, smoke or get pregnant, and are more able to weather the physical and emotional storms of adolescence. “Gymnastics was a wonderful outlet for me,” agrees gymnast Dominique Dawes, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. “It kept me from falling into a dark hole during the down times we all have.”

Playing sports also establishes life-long habits that translate into dramatic health benefits. Sportswomen have lower incidences of heart disease, osteoporosis, obesity, and breast and other reproductive cancers. The psychological gains are important too. “Athletics build character,” says Tracy Austin, who was the world’s number one female singles tennis player in 1980 at age 17. “They teach you tenacity, discipline, social skills, and how to win and lose graciously.”

Keeping Girls in the game- Parents can play a key role in encouraging their daughters’ lifelong involvement in sports. Unflagging parental support and positive reinforcement can counteract the negative cultural messages girls are bombarded with in adolescence. “My mother was a never-ending bowl of encouragement,” says Olympic skier Picabo Street, who is naturally big and strong, and battled stereotypes of femininity throughout high school. “My mother constantly told me, You’re great. You’re beautiful. You’re so coordinated. I’m so proud to be your mother.” It made me feel substantial. I also had my father encouraging me to excel because he knew what I was capable of doing.”

As with mastering a foreign language, the younger you are when you learn to play sports, the easier it is to acquire the skills and more likely they are to stick with you for life. The all-important first step is to introduce your daughter to athletics as early as possible. In fact, studies indicate that if a little girl does not participate in athletics by the time she’s 10 years old, there is only a 10 percent chance she will participate when she is 25.

GYMTR!X™ teaches all of the skills girls need to be active in sports! Beginning in infancy, GYMTR!X™ engages girls in the fun of learning physical skills that develop confidence and a love for sports.

- Doreen Bolhuis, Creator of GYMTR!X™

GYMTRIX makes it fun and easy to teach Physical Literacy! You will find a program perfect for children of any age or ability. Here are some things to remember:

1. Make it regular! Engage in activities every day, several times a day. Take a few minutes to have fun and try the activities from GYMTRIX programs whenever you can, even if you only have 5 or 10 minutes.
2. Make it fun! Kids are motivated by fun. GYMTRIX provides activities that are fun for kids, but also challenges them to learn at the same time.
3. Make it Challenging! Kids love to learn and grow. GYMTRIX programs provide challenges that are age appropriate so kids have fun and don’t get frustrated. Kids are successful in small steps and soon a new skill is mastered.
4. Make it new! Life is more interesting when things are new. GYMTRIX programs have SO many activities, that you can try new things every day. Rotating activities is the best way to stimulate the brain and practice skills learned earlier.
5. Take it everywhere! Make activity a lifestyle by taking GYMTRIX activities to a friend’s house, Grandmother’s house, outside, to the playground, to the grocery store (practice throwing and catching with safe items like paper towels). The opportunities for play and learning are everywhere!

REMEMBER TO KEEP MOVING!!!

by Doreen Bolhuis, Creator of GYMTRIX

The following are excerpts from an article by Rae Pica, a children’s physical activity specialist for 25 years and the author of 15 books.

Where infants are concerned, America is considered a “low touch” society. In many other cultures, babies are held for hours, stroked, and carried close to the bodies of their mothers. In ours, babies spend lengthy periods alone in cribs; we fear that unless they’re allowed to “self-soothe”, they’ll be spoiled and grow up dependent. American infants are more likely to be “containerized” than carried body-to-body.

And, oh, how we love our containers! Recent evidence indicates infants are spending upwards of sixty waking hours a week in things; in high chairs and walkers, playpens and portable cribs, plastic seats, bouncy seats, and seats that swing. We push them in strollers until they’re four or five years old! All of this translates into little time spent holding playing with, or simply touching our babies. We unthinkingly teach a sedentary lifestyle from babyhood!

Babies need to move for the sake of their motor and cognitive development. When they spend too much time containerized, they never strengthen their muscles – to lift and turn their heads, to push up on their arms, to develop optimal balance, stability, and motor skills. Early movement experiences are also considered essential to the neural stimulation (the use-it-or-lose-it principle involved in the keeping or pruning of brain cells) needed for healthy brain development. Touch and movement spark the neurons in a babies brain to grow and branch out encompass other neurons.

Adults assume that until an infant is at least able to creep, play and movement experiences are severely limited. But that’s just not so! There are many ways babies can move and play without the ability to transport themselves from place to place. Children learn to play just as they learn to walk and talk – by having it modeled and by experiencing it and practicing it.

Parents only want the best for their children. As such, they’ve been quick to embrace the claims of the makers of infant software (“lap-ware”), CDs with “special” music, and flashcards in multiple languages. In our high–tech, fast-paced society, we turn readily and hopefully to the latest gadgets and gear promised to give our babies a “head start” on brain and motor development. But the simple truth is that babies don’t need fancy gadgets and gear. The best we have to offer them is what their brains were “hardwired” for before birth. It’s free and accessible to all. It is touch, movement and play!

Baby GYMTRIX teaches parents and caregivers how to help your baby move and at they same time, bond with your baby. It’s fun for both you and baby!

On Thursday, March 29, 2007 Doreen Bolhuis, creator of GYMTRIX, will teach Physical Literacy to early childhood educators in Michigan. The annual conference of the Michigan Association for Education of Young Children will be held at DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 29 – 31.

Thousands of child educators and care givers will convene to study the latest information on child education and to find new resources and equipment for their programs. Doreen’s session on Physical Literacy will teach educators about the problem of sedentary lifestyles and what to do about it. Teachers will learn the competencies needed for Physical Literacy and how to teach them to children.

GYMTRIX DVDs for babies, toddlers, preschool and kids will be available in the exhibit hall at booth #603.

The following information is from The Journal of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, December 2006:

Parents want their children to be healthy. When asked about preferences for a boy or girl, most expectant parents say, “We don’t care. We just want our baby to be healthy.”

Scientific evidence indicates that regular physical activity:
1. helps to prevent disease
2. promotes a sense of well being and self-esteem
3. aids in fighting obesity
4. promotes lifelong physical fitness
5. improves bone density
6. lowers blood pressure
7. aids academic achievement
8. aids in fighting diabetes
9. is supported by health and academic organizations
10. fosters overall wellness

In addition to scientific support for exercise, the social, emotional and developmental benefits include:
11. physical activity is fun
12. it is also delightful
13. it is personally meaningful
14. it is a primary source of identity, of who one is
15. it offers a refreshing playground, a respite, something to look forward to

Physical activity also helps a person develop five fundamental human freedoms:
16. the freedom to express
17. the freedom to explore
18. the freedom to discover
19. the freedom to invent
20. the freedom to create

One of the greatest things about physical activity and play is that they make our lives go better, not just longer. It is the quality of life, the joy of being alive, the things we do with our good health that matter to us as much or more than health itself. GYMTRIX activities are beneficial and fun!

Brought to you by Doreen Bolhuis, Creator of GYMTRIX.

Mayo Clinic Newsletter, February 2007: “A study by the National Alliance for Youth Sports found that 70 percent of American kids drop out of organized sports by age 13. One reason: It’s not fun because it’s too competitive.”

Adults want kids to compete, but kids just want to have fun! And, fun means playing, trying new things, learning, and conquering new challenges. Watch a group of 5-6 year olds play “organized” soccer, and you will see kids who just want to have fun. Everybody chases the ball in an effort to be part of the fun and the result is a “beehive” group formation surrounding the ball. Kids don’t care about strategy or winning, they just want to play.

GYMTRIX gets kids in the game by challenging them to have fun, be active and learn. Confidence comes from ability, so when kids learn new GYMTRIX skills they become more confident and want to play games instead of watch. Try GYMTRIX with friends or family. You’ll have fun!

Brought to you by Doreen Bolhuis, GYMTRIX Creator. Read more about Doreen here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 26, 2007

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION…HELP KIDS GET FIT

Grand Rapids, Mich. – Millions of Americans resolve to get fit in the New Year, but our children are left behind. The battle of childhood obesity continues and the solution undefined, until now. Everyone talks about childhood obesity; GYMTRIX™ does something about it.

Two successful women business owners bring their expertise together to offer a practical tool that parents, teachers, daycare providers and others can use with confidence. GYMTRIXTM is a series of innovative video programs that teach physical literacy skills needed for lifelong physical activity. The series is designed for babies (6-18 months), toddlers (18 months-3 years), preschoolers (3-6 years), and kids (7-11 years).

GYMTRIXTM’s creator, Doreen Bolhuis, is a nationally recognized physical education professional, as well as president and founder of Gymco Sports. Bolhuis developed GYMTRIXTM based on her 30 years of knowledge and practical experience. The programs incorporate the scientific strategies that she’s studied, tested and implemented at Gymco Sports.

“We must seriously address obesity now. Sedentary children become sedentary adults. The time to learn skills for life-long health is infancy and childhood,” Bolhuis states. “If children do not develop motor skills, kinesthetic awareness, coordination and agility at a young age they are disadvantaged when faced with the challenge of physical participation.”

GYMTRIXTM is a product of FITsmart Productions, LLC, a joint venture of Bolhuis and Cynthia Kay, former host of a nationally awarded children’s television show and current president of Cynthia Kay and Company media production.

“There is no need for costly classes and no special items are necessary. With GYMTRIXTM, you can take common household items and turn them into toys for your children – toys that help them learn,” said Kay.

Visit www.gymtrix.net for more information on the GYMTRIX™ series.
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For more information contact:
info@gymtrix.net