MODERN KIDS : ARE THEY TURNING INTO TELETUBBIES?

Our children are turning into teletubbies.  Not only are they spending more and more time in front of screens in the form of television, computers, game consols and video arcades, but they’re gaining weight too. 

According to the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 17 per cent of children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 are obese, while in Australia, it’s around 20 to 25%.    

With research showing that an average child spends around 5 and a half hours in front of some type of screen every day, that amounts to around a third of their waking hours if they get the recommended amount of sleep!   This sedentary lifestyle coupled with obesity poses a very real health risk for young people, who could face life-long challenges such as cardiovascular problems, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Quite simply, getting the right amount of exercise and eating the right foods is critical to the health and wellbeing of our children. 

Every parent knows how useful the television can be when it comes to having an instant childminder if there are chores to be done.   But if your child is spending too much time with the ‘babysitter’ and isn’t thrilled at any suggestion to go outside and get physical in the garden, or the park or the playground – you may want to consider getting them involved in an exciting and challenging activity that not only develops physical fitness but mental and emotional strength too.  Karate.

Children learn valuable life lessons through martial arts and karate.  While children are more than likely to know all about the iconic Bruce Lee and his amazing flying feats or the Karate Kid’s uplifting journey, karate is far more than what they see on their TV screens.  Karate builds muscle strength, endurance and general fitness.  Importantly, it builds self-esteem, self-confidence, integrity and respect.  In short, says Grant Rollinson, a renowned Perth martial arts exponent, karate can unlock huge potential for children and adults who want to make a positive change to their lives.

Even if your child isn’t overweight or inactive, karate lessons are a great way of getting gym fit and developing lifelong skills, such as  :

·         Building courtesy, respect, discipline and integrity

·         Boosting concentration levels

·         Develops leadership skills

·         Eases stress levels

·         Helps with overcoming fears and facing up to challenges

·         Develops a spirit of community  

·         Stimulates a belief in healthy living with regular exercise

Obesity in children can pose significant challenges – physical, health, social and emotional – and finding a safe activity that can address all of these can literally be a life-saver.  With its multifaceted approach, kids karate can make an enormous impact on a young life as it emphasizes not only physical health but emotional and social strength too.

”The ultimate aim of the art of karate lies not in victory or defeat but in the perfection of the characters of its participants”  – martial arts legend, Gichin Funakoshi once said – how true that is.