Healthy and Active Places for Kids

Many kids in North Carolina are at risk for chronic health issues due to physical inactivity and poor eating habits. An important part of your job as a parent is making sure places where your kids spend time support a healthy and active lifestyle. Use these tips to create or advocate for healthier environments for your kids to make better choices.

Create a Healthy Environment at Home

Health starts at home.  Not only is it important for you to set a good example for your children, it’s important to take advantage of the time you’re with them to help them establish healthy habits for life.

Be a good role model

  • Limit your screen time – television, computers, and video games.
  • Treat physical activity as a normal daily activity like sleeping or eating.
  • Pay attention to nutrition labeling and portion sizes and talk to your kids about healthy food.

Create an environment for success

  • Keep less healthy foods at a minimum and stock your fridge with water, milk and 100% fruit juices.
  • Place fruits in a bowl on the counter for easy access and healthier foods on the shelves at eye level.
  • Commit to being more physically activity every day. Set physical activity goals for your family and track their progress with our physical activity tracking tool.

Be physically active every day

  • Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day; your kids should get 60 minutes
  • Do a couple minutes of movement first thing in the morning to wake up, and do a couple more right before dinner to burn off energy.  It all adds up!
  • Consider banning TV if the day has been too sedentary.  The normal TV-watching time can be used for an activity.
  • Stretch before bed.  The slow time will relax everyone before getting much needed rest and will be good for you too!

Support a Healthy School Environment

Your kids spend most of their day at school. Make sure that it’s as healthy a role as possible.

Eating a healthy lunch

  • Pack a fruit, veggie and protein in every lunch to provide a balanced meal for the middle of the day.
  • If your child eats lunch at school, the standard meals meet certain USDA dietary requirements set by the government.  Urge your school system and local and state officials to make these meals healthier by exceeding the minimum requirements and having less fat and more fruits and veggies, or urge them to try to provide items grown in your own community by local producers.
  • Most schools have a need at some point in the year to raise funds for an activity, club, or team.  Urge your school system, or even just your child’s school, to reject sugary fundraisers.

Getting active in school

  • Support mandated physical education and activity requirements. The NC Healthy Active Children Policy mandates 150 minutes of physical education in elementary school and 225 minutes of physical and healthy living education in middle school.
  • Walking to and from school is a missed opportunity for many kids in North Carolina. Visit the National Center for Safe Routes to School to help decide if your family can safely add walking or riding to school as part of your normal routine.