European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Warding off another unfit generation by Jane e. Brody new York times e Ven As growing numbers of adults discover the value of exercise to whip their bodies into better shape relieve stress prevent chronic disease and delay the ravages of age the youth of America Are going to seed. A decade Long study of More than 12,000 boys and girls has painted a picture of increasing sloth flagging strength and diminishing endurance. The study conducted yearly among children from grades 1 through 12, is financed by the Chrysler corporation fund and administered by the Amateur athletic Union through Indiana University a school of health kinesiology and recreation. In the 1980s the study detected a a significant decline Quot in cardiovascular endurance particularly among older children who now cannot run As fast or As Long As children their age used to. 1 american children Over 11 have become heavier and not just More muscular but also fatter. And the percentage of youngsters who can satisfactorily Complete the four components of a fitness test a strength flexibility and muscular and cardiovascular endurance a has declined from 43 percent to 32 percent. Why one May wonder in this age of fitness Are we producing yet another unfit generation experts offer Many reasons in addition to the most obvious one children watch too much television an activity that these Days exercises Only the Finger that operates the Remote. Most american youngsters it seems would rather watch elite athletes work their bodies into a froth than get sweaty themselves. Also important Are cutbacks in school based physical education programs for All students even while schools continue to underwrite image making team sports. But competitive sports Are generally limited to a few athletically talented participants and rarely represent health promoting activities that can be practice fora lifetime. The american Academy of paediatrics Points out that there is no Federal Law mandating physical education in schools and eight states have no established physical education requirements for students at any age. Only 36 percent of students in grades 5 through 12 have daily physical education classes and most Grade school children have them Only once or twice a week. Finally Many children regard fitness promoting aerobic activities a like running swimming laps walking fast or cycling several times around the Park a As Boring or unpleasant. They would rather play baseball even if they get to move Only infrequently during a game. The committees on sports Medicine and school health of the paediatrics Academy list five components of fitness muscle strength muscle endurance flexibility body composition otherwise known As 1 percent of body fat and cardio respiratory endurance. Schools unfortunately emphasize sports like football and baseball that require skill and agility but do Little to enhance fitness. To build endurance and minimize the accumulation of body fat aerobic activities should be done briskly and continuously for at least 20 minutes at a time three times a week. Few children Are Likely to be motivated to exercise on the Promise of preventing diseases four or More decades hence. Far More important to children and their parents Are help your children be fit by introducing them to a variety of activities. This 5-year-old gives gymnastic rings a try. The immediate benefits of regular physical activity studies indicate that physical activity in childhood can Ward off excess body fat build self esteem enhance learning promote emotional Well being improve classroom behaviour and establish a lifelong habit that May ultimately prevent or delay a Host of debilitating diseases. The habit of regular physical activity should become part of a child s life Long before starting school at the age of 6. A continuing study of children a socialization into sports begun in 1986 by the Melpomene Institute a research and resource Center in St. Paul that examines the effects of exercise on girls and women has highlighted the critical role of parents. The main factors that influence children a participation in physical activity the study showed Are parental exercise habits and the time parents spend with their children in physically Active pursuits. In other words children learn Best by example and from patterns of behaviour within the family. If you expect to have Active healthy children you had Best be Active yourself. Recent surveys have shown that fewer than a third of parents of children age6 through 9 get regular physical exercise and half a starting with or others in Chan Arents get no exercise at All. Other ways of e icon raging activity include these a amps l. Emeji Lewis i children should engage in aerobic activities for at least 20 minutes at a time three times a week. Toddlers and preschoolers parents should spend at least half an hour a Day three or Morfe times a week in outdoor physical play with the children. Playground activities playing Ball walking through a Park collecting Sticks and stones Are just a few of the possibilities. A do not use television As a baby Sitter. It establishes a bad habit that can haunt the child for life. Television watching by preschoolers should be limited to an hour a Day of educational programs. A Daylight hours after school should be outdoor play hours. Prevention oriented paediatricians suggest this schedule change clothes after school and go out to play until suppertime or darkness Falls. After supper do Homework and then if there is still time before bed watch up to an hour of television. If favorite programs Are shown earlier tape them for later viewing. A introduce children to a variety of activities. Children Are readily bored different activities can help maintain their interest and exercise different parts of their bodies. A done to assume that because your child is on a team he or she is getting adequate exercise. Team members can spend most of the time sitting or standing around besides team sports Are rarely lifetime activities a encourage your child to engage regularly in activities that promote fitness and can be enjoyed throughout life like bicycling skating swimming Tennis dancing Cross country skiing walking and running. The Best Way to interest children in such activities is to join in yourself and perhaps invite a Friend or two of the child s As Welt. A parents whose children Are on teams should avoid an emphasis on winning. The main Point of games should be to have fun and get exercise and children should be rewarded for doing their Best win or lose. Parents should support the activity by attending games showing an interest in the team members and offering individual encouragement. Do not become Overly involved or too demanding about How the activity should be done. Rather the Melpomene Institute suggests Quot be a guest in your child s play.�?T1 a establish and enforce safety rules like always wearing a helmet when cycling or skate boarding swimming Only with a qualified adult in watchful attendance wearing a life jacket when rowing or canoeing and wearing face guards for hockey. Page 14 a a a the stars and stripes. Tuesday