Bigger Kids, Bigger Role In Their Own Dietary Choices
But the older a child is, the more likely they are
to notice any changes, and hence, need to be engaged in them and
given the opportunity to take ownership of them.
The children in our program have homework assignments
that are both educational and behavioral, and they involve getting
the child to make healthy choices on their own, so that they become
invested in those decisions.
Does that mean Mom and Dad are off the hook? By no
means. There is another feature of the parents’ program followed
in the research study that’s proven successful in our full family-based
approach.
Parents are encouraged to practice an “authoritative”
parenting style, in which they offer their children a kind of leadership
by example, and model appropriate eating and activity, as opposed
to an “authoritarian” style, which would be that old “do as I say
because I said so,” approach.
With older kids and teenagers, the parents are still
crucial as an authoritative model, but the teen needs to take some
responsibility too, and not just as a compliant participant.
A maturing child should be given a meaningful role,
e.g. planning the family menu for the week, or deciding what physical
activities
they will engage in. The parents are still laying down the ground
rules, but older kids and teens need to feel some ownership of the
process and the goal.
As with many other things, you can’t just tell a
teenager to go exercise. It takes some finesse, and some respect
for the child’s role in choosing. For example, by asking “How much
do you want to lose this week?” we offer the child a controlling
role.
By asking what activity or exercise they’ll do to
make that happen, we’ve started them on the first step of their
own activity plan.
And if they come up with nothing they are willing
to do, we let them know that they need to change their goal, because
they probably won't lose any weight that week.
But all of those decisions are controlled by the
child or teen. That kind of ownership is far more likely to lead
to planning and follow-through than a parent’s orders, or even gentle
instructions.
Play together, weigh together
Other recent research on children and body weight
shows a direct correlation between kids’ weight and the amount of
time they spent in recreational physical activity with their families.
We see much in the media about the loss of physical
education programs in schools, but these opportunities for exercise
and activity don’t have as strong a correlation with kids’ weight
as what they do with their parents.
That could be because we learn our values from our
families, typically, not our schools. Even if kids sit around in
school all day and go home to enjoy a bike ride with the family,
they’re far more likely to see themselves as active, to have a positive
attitude about physical recreation and to participate in it with
others.
When it comes to weight-management issues with younger
children, treating mom and dad to nutritional education, parenting
guidance and sound medical advice helps the grown-ups take care
of the problem, so that kids just end up with the solution.
But for older children and teens, they need to know
that not only are they responsible for participating, they’re actually
capable of coming up with the solution themselves.
But walks might become a part of the day, sweets
and treats become special occasion foods, and healthy snacking options
start to be available.
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Related Links:
Life lost to Obesity: Not Just QualityHelping Your Overweight Child Family Involvement Is KeyChildhood Obesity - The Biggest health Risk for Kids!Overweight little kids? Treat the parents, too!Preventing Childhood Obesity - Creative Snacking Beats Hunger and BoredomHome |
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This website is only for the purpose of providing information and should not be substituted for the advice of your doctor.
Please consult with your doctor before starting any weight loss program or supplement.