Are you a parent concerned for the overall health of your teenager? Do you know for a fact that their health is already headed in the wrong direction? Well trust me when I tell you, you are NOT the only parent with these concerns.
Teenagers have the unique benefit of being able to take advantage of lots of physical fitness and exercise through their schooling.
Swimming, golfing, soccer, baseball, football, marching band, and many other choices are just sitting out there ready to be taken advantage of.
However, maybe your teen just doesn't have interest in any of these.
Maybe your teen would like bike riding, roller-blading, hiking, walking, jogging, or skateboarding.
All of these are highly adequate forms of exercise and will get your teen off that couch and moving in the right direction.
Don't be afraid to jump in and do these things with your teen.
After all, at these ages they are probably starting to break away from you and beginning to find their independence.
Use exercise as a foundation to join them.
Not only will it promote physical fitness for both of you, but it can be that special time where you re-connect with them and understand whats going on in their lives.
In today's' culture, we see so many kids snuggling up to video games as their favorite form of passing time.
Now, whether you agree with video games or not, there is still something you can do.
Start by trading in that gaming console you have, and use the money to purchase a Nintendo Wii.
Your teenager might complain a bit, but at the end of the day, they will still get their video games, and the Wii promotes exercise and fitness as they play.
Its a complete win-win for everyone.
As a parent, it is critical to understand that your teen needs to get at least 3 - 1 hour sessions of physical activity into their routine weekly.
This would of course be somewhat of a minimal level, but would be adequate for their development.