Have you ever heard people say that a child's mind is like a sponge? Once you become a parent you begin to realise just how true this saying is! Everything that we say or do has a potential impact on the future lives of our children.
When we think about it in these terms, it can seem somewhat daunting. It's obviously important that we don't spend too much of our time worrying - life is, after all, very much for living! There is certainly value in stepping back, however, and asking ourselves what sort of example we are setting.
This applies in all aspects of our lives but is clearly vital when we think about the health and fitness of our kids. Poor fitness in young life can lead to numerous health problems in later life. So waht sort of job are we doing of ensuring that our children are as active as possible?
Many of us would admit that this is an area in which we could improve. It's sometimes easy to think of our children as being safely in front of the television or playing video games. We might tell ourselves that we are happy for them to be doing these things because it ensures that we know where they are and that they are out of harm's way.
But what's best for them? Such activities require minimal movement and are thought by some to have contributed to the rise in childhood obesity levels. Such concerns have severe consequences. Since we want the best for our children, it makes sense that we would wish for them to be as healthy as possible.
So what can we do to improve things? One way that we can certainly make things better is by setting a good example. This means showing our children that exercise can be fun.
There are many ways that you can do this - you might, for example, show the way by playing sports or encouraging their own sporting activities. Alternatively, you could make use of space at home to introduce new activities.
Placing a trampoline in the garden could be a good start. Using a trampoline can be great fun and it's also brilliant for exercise purposes. It's an activity that the whole family can enjoy, allowing you to show your kids that exercise can be just as much fun as video games.
Take the time to set a better example and your children will thank you for it in later life.