Once children reach school age, they learn to make friends and socialize with others. A new concept is introduced into their lives. They find themselves surrounded by and spending their days with people who are not immediate family.

All schools have some sort of physical education program that gives students time to move.

Another thing that schools do is offer lunch. When your child was at home, the foods they ate were controlled by you, but at school, they are offered a variety of choices not only for lunch, but also, in many schools, breakfast. It becomes more important to watch what they eat.

Youth are also learning about themselves and becoming more aware of their bodies. In the latter years of this period, kids start puberty and the body starts to deposit fat in places where it was not before. Hanging out with friends, they are likely to snack and eat sweet treats if they are offered.

Add to that, the fact that many of today’s youth spend far too much time inside. Technology can make your child lazy. Computer games and the Internet keep them glued to the chair or the couch instead of outside playing. A lot of mindless snacking occurs when they turn into couch potatoes.

This is especially a time to encourage your child from the time they reach school age to continue to stay active. This activity can be in the form of organized sports or family activities. It’s important also for you to participate in these activities as much as possible. Accompany them to their practices and work outs and make sure to attend their games whenever possible.

This is also a time when kids learn to ride bikes and scooters. Riding a bike is excellent exercise and it gets you places faster than walking. What about roller skating or skateboarding? My sisters and I were doing all these things when we were in elementary school.

The key to regular activity is family involvement. On a Saturday, everyone can go to the park and ride bikes or walk a nature trail. Hiking trails offer adventure for the entire family. Kids will think it’s cool just to get new boots and gear.

Set up game time and do some things together. Board games are great, but to get some real exercise into family time, take a walk to the closest basketball court, or hang a basketball hoop and shoot some balls in the driveway.

Start a pickup game while dinner is on the stove. Simple games like hopscotch, kickball, and tennis get the blood pumping and the muscles working. The constant starting and stopping movements of tennis and basketball keep the heart rate up so that the body burns fat for fuel.

If your child wants to play a sport after school or on a school team, encourage them to take part. The participation will teach teamwork and how to discipline their body through physical activity. If you live near a recreation center, consider joining the club as a family and taking advantage of the swimming pool and other activities as often as possible.