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Dr. Chris Koutures says even with school back, exercise shouldn't be forgotten. It helps kids stay healthy physically and mentally. Just 30 minutes daily can make a big difference.

Walk to school

Going to school on foot is a simple and effective way to add more physical activity to a busy school day. “If you can't walk the whole way, try walking part of it”, advises Dr. Koutures. “You might drop off your child a block away and walk the rest of the way to school together.”

Play outside

After your kids come home from school, please encourage them to play outside or be active for 30 minutes before they begin homework. You can also have fun together as a family with active games like catch, soccer, dancing, swimming, tag, and hula-hooping. If your child prefers indoor activities, remind them to take short breaks every five to 10 minutes to move around.

Move during the commercials

"If your kids prefer watching TV or videos after school, encourage them to get up and move during the commercials or breaks," advises Dr. Koutures. Commercials usually last about five minutes every half hour, so moving during them can give them at least 10 minutes of exercise per hour. If there aren't commercials or breaks during their show, have them take a break every half hour to move around.

Go for a walk before or after dinner

Take a family walk before or after dinner, or ride a family bike. Make it a fun time for the entire family — use it to talk about your day and catch up. During the busy school year, Dr. Koutures reminds parents to "find ways to throw in fitness, find ways to make it fun, and get the entire family involved."

With these tips, we hope this school year is your family's most active year yet!

Dr. Chris Koutures says even with school back, exercise shouldn't be forgotten. It helps kids stay healthy physically and mentally. Just 30 minutes daily can make a big difference.

Walk to school

Going to school on foot is a simple and effective way to add more physical activity to a busy school day. “If you can't walk the whole way, try walking part of it”, advises Dr. Koutures. “You might drop off your child a block away and walk the rest of the way to school together.”

Play outside

After your kids come home from school, please encourage them to play outside or be active for 30 minutes before they begin homework. You can also have fun together as a family with active games like catch, soccer, dancing, swimming, tag, and hula-hooping. If your child prefers indoor activities, remind them to take short breaks every five to 10 minutes to move around.

Move during the commercials

"If your kids prefer watching TV or videos after school, encourage them to get up and move during the commercials or breaks," advises Dr. Koutures. Commercials usually last about five minutes every half hour, so moving during them can give them at least 10 minutes of exercise per hour. If there aren't commercials or breaks during their show, have them take a break every half hour to move around.

Go for a walk before or after dinner

Take a family walk before or after dinner, or ride a family bike. Make it a fun time for the entire family — use it to talk about your day and catch up. During the busy school year, Dr. Koutures reminds parents to "find ways to throw in fitness, find ways to make it fun, and get the entire family involved."

With these tips, we hope this school year is your family's most active year yet!

Dr. Chris Koutures says even with school back, exercise shouldn't be forgotten. It helps kids stay healthy physically and mentally. Just 30 minutes daily can make a big difference.

Walk to school

Going to school on foot is a simple and effective way to add more physical activity to a busy school day. “If you can't walk the whole way, try walking part of it”, advises Dr. Koutures. “You might drop off your child a block away and walk the rest of the way to school together.”

Play outside

After your kids come home from school, please encourage them to play outside or be active for 30 minutes before they begin homework. You can also have fun together as a family with active games like catch, soccer, dancing, swimming, tag, and hula-hooping. If your child prefers indoor activities, remind them to take short breaks every five to 10 minutes to move around.

Move during the commercials

"If your kids prefer watching TV or videos after school, encourage them to get up and move during the commercials or breaks," advises Dr. Koutures. Commercials usually last about five minutes every half hour, so moving during them can give them at least 10 minutes of exercise per hour. If there aren't commercials or breaks during their show, have them take a break every half hour to move around.

Go for a walk before or after dinner

Take a family walk before or after dinner, or ride a family bike. Make it a fun time for the entire family — use it to talk about your day and catch up. During the busy school year, Dr. Koutures reminds parents to "find ways to throw in fitness, find ways to make it fun, and get the entire family involved."

With these tips, we hope this school year is your family's most active year yet!

Dr. Chris Koutures says even with school back, exercise shouldn't be forgotten. It helps kids stay healthy physically and mentally. Just 30 minutes daily can make a big difference.

Walk to school

Going to school on foot is a simple and effective way to add more physical activity to a busy school day. “If you can't walk the whole way, try walking part of it”, advises Dr. Koutures. “You might drop off your child a block away and walk the rest of the way to school together.”

Play outside

After your kids come home from school, please encourage them to play outside or be active for 30 minutes before they begin homework. You can also have fun together as a family with active games like catch, soccer, dancing, swimming, tag, and hula-hooping. If your child prefers indoor activities, remind them to take short breaks every five to 10 minutes to move around.

Move during the commercials

"If your kids prefer watching TV or videos after school, encourage them to get up and move during the commercials or breaks," advises Dr. Koutures. Commercials usually last about five minutes every half hour, so moving during them can give them at least 10 minutes of exercise per hour. If there aren't commercials or breaks during their show, have them take a break every half hour to move around.

Go for a walk before or after dinner

Take a family walk before or after dinner, or ride a family bike. Make it a fun time for the entire family — use it to talk about your day and catch up. During the busy school year, Dr. Koutures reminds parents to "find ways to throw in fitness, find ways to make it fun, and get the entire family involved."

With these tips, we hope this school year is your family's most active year yet!

Dr. Chris Koutures says even with school back, exercise shouldn't be forgotten. It helps kids stay healthy physically and mentally. Just 30 minutes daily can make a big difference.

Walk to school

Going to school on foot is a simple and effective way to add more physical activity to a busy school day. “If you can't walk the whole way, try walking part of it”, advises Dr. Koutures. “You might drop off your child a block away and walk the rest of the way to school together.”

Play outside

After your kids come home from school, please encourage them to play outside or be active for 30 minutes before they begin homework. You can also have fun together as a family with active games like catch, soccer, dancing, swimming, tag, and hula-hooping. If your child prefers indoor activities, remind them to take short breaks every five to 10 minutes to move around.

Move during the commercials

"If your kids prefer watching TV or videos after school, encourage them to get up and move during the commercials or breaks," advises Dr. Koutures. Commercials usually last about five minutes every half hour, so moving during them can give them at least 10 minutes of exercise per hour. If there aren't commercials or breaks during their show, have them take a break every half hour to move around.

Go for a walk before or after dinner

Take a family walk before or after dinner, or ride a family bike. Make it a fun time for the entire family — use it to talk about your day and catch up. During the busy school year, Dr. Koutures reminds parents to "find ways to throw in fitness, find ways to make it fun, and get the entire family involved."

With these tips, we hope this school year is your family's most active year yet!

Dr. Chris Koutures says even with school back, exercise shouldn't be forgotten. It helps kids stay healthy physically and mentally. Just 30 minutes daily can make a big difference.

Walk to school

Going to school on foot is a simple and effective way to add more physical activity to a busy school day. “If you can't walk the whole way, try walking part of it”, advises Dr. Koutures. “You might drop off your child a block away and walk the rest of the way to school together.”

Play outside

After your kids come home from school, please encourage them to play outside or be active for 30 minutes before they begin homework. You can also have fun together as a family with active games like catch, soccer, dancing, swimming, tag, and hula-hooping. If your child prefers indoor activities, remind them to take short breaks every five to 10 minutes to move around.

Move during the commercials

"If your kids prefer watching TV or videos after school, encourage them to get up and move during the commercials or breaks," advises Dr. Koutures. Commercials usually last about five minutes every half hour, so moving during them can give them at least 10 minutes of exercise per hour. If there aren't commercials or breaks during their show, have them take a break every half hour to move around.

Go for a walk before or after dinner

Take a family walk before or after dinner, or ride a family bike. Make it a fun time for the entire family — use it to talk about your day and catch up. During the busy school year, Dr. Koutures reminds parents to "find ways to throw in fitness, find ways to make it fun, and get the entire family involved."

With these tips, we hope this school year is your family's most active year yet!

1. Adolescents experience rapid growth and development, with increased needs for certain vitamins and minerals such as calcium and iron. Growth spurts typically occur around 12.5 years for girls and 14 years for boys.

2. Many lifestyle changes take place during adolescence. When children start secondary school, they often have more independence and greater control over their choices. It is when parents suggest one thing, and their kids appear to do exactly the opposite. They can often decide what and when they want to eat and how they spend their free time.

3. Media can often be a challenge in promoting the ‘thin' body ideal, as well as challenging other aspects of your family values and beliefs. This may result in difficulty for them knowing what a healthy weight and lifestyle is, and this has the potential to lead to unhealthy eating habits and beliefs.

4. It is important to listen to what teenagers are saying and explore their views and opinions with them. Even if you disagree, accepting and understanding their point of view is an important part of parenting adolescents to keep lines of communication open.

5. Build good routines around healthy eating and exercise. They will understand that people come in all different shapes and sizes, and by eating a healthy, varied diet and taking part in regular physical activity, their weight should stay healthy.

1. Adolescents experience rapid growth and development, with increased needs for certain vitamins and minerals such as calcium and iron. Growth spurts typically occur around 12.5 years for girls and 14 years for boys.

2. Many lifestyle changes take place during adolescence. When children start secondary school, they often have more independence and greater control over their choices. It is when parents suggest one thing, and their kids appear to do exactly the opposite. They can often decide what and when they want to eat and how they spend their free time.

3. Media can often be a challenge in promoting the ‘thin' body ideal, as well as challenging other aspects of your family values and beliefs. This may result in difficulty for them knowing what a healthy weight and lifestyle is, and this has the potential to lead to unhealthy eating habits and beliefs.

4. It is important to listen to what teenagers are saying and explore their views and opinions with them. Even if you disagree, accepting and understanding their point of view is an important part of parenting adolescents to keep lines of communication open.

5. Build good routines around healthy eating and exercise. They will understand that people come in all different shapes and sizes, and by eating a healthy, varied diet and taking part in regular physical activity, their weight should stay healthy.

1. Adolescents experience rapid growth and development, with increased needs for certain vitamins and minerals such as calcium and iron. Growth spurts typically occur around 12.5 years for girls and 14 years for boys.

2. Many lifestyle changes take place during adolescence. When children start secondary school, they often have more independence and greater control over their choices. It is when parents suggest one thing, and their kids appear to do exactly the opposite. They can often decide what and when they want to eat and how they spend their free time.

3. Media can often be a challenge in promoting the ‘thin' body ideal, as well as challenging other aspects of your family values and beliefs. This may result in difficulty for them knowing what a healthy weight and lifestyle is, and this has the potential to lead to unhealthy eating habits and beliefs.

4. It is important to listen to what teenagers are saying and explore their views and opinions with them. Even if you disagree, accepting and understanding their point of view is an important part of parenting adolescents to keep lines of communication open.

5. Build good routines around healthy eating and exercise. They will understand that people come in all different shapes and sizes, and by eating a healthy, varied diet and taking part in regular physical activity, their weight should stay healthy.

1. Adolescents experience rapid growth and development, with increased needs for certain vitamins and minerals such as calcium and iron. Growth spurts typically occur around 12.5 years for girls and 14 years for boys.

2. Many lifestyle changes take place during adolescence. When children start secondary school, they often have more independence and greater control over their choices. It is when parents suggest one thing, and their kids appear to do exactly the opposite. They can often decide what and when they want to eat and how they spend their free time.

3. Media can often be a challenge in promoting the ‘thin' body ideal, as well as challenging other aspects of your family values and beliefs. This may result in difficulty for them knowing what a healthy weight and lifestyle is, and this has the potential to lead to unhealthy eating habits and beliefs.

4. It is important to listen to what teenagers are saying and explore their views and opinions with them. Even if you disagree, accepting and understanding their point of view is an important part of parenting adolescents to keep lines of communication open.

5. Build good routines around healthy eating and exercise. They will understand that people come in all different shapes and sizes, and by eating a healthy, varied diet and taking part in regular physical activity, their weight should stay healthy.

1. Adolescents experience rapid growth and development, with increased needs for certain vitamins and minerals such as calcium and iron. Growth spurts typically occur around 12.5 years for girls and 14 years for boys.

2. Many lifestyle changes take place during adolescence. When children start secondary school, they often have more independence and greater control over their choices. It is when parents suggest one thing, and their kids appear to do exactly the opposite. They can often decide what and when they want to eat and how they spend their free time.

3. Media can often be a challenge in promoting the ‘thin' body ideal, as well as challenging other aspects of your family values and beliefs. This may result in difficulty for them knowing what a healthy weight and lifestyle is, and this has the potential to lead to unhealthy eating habits and beliefs.

4. It is important to listen to what teenagers are saying and explore their views and opinions with them. Even if you disagree, accepting and understanding their point of view is an important part of parenting adolescents to keep lines of communication open.

5. Build good routines around healthy eating and exercise. They will understand that people come in all different shapes and sizes, and by eating a healthy, varied diet and taking part in regular physical activity, their weight should stay healthy.