7 Exercises for Kids that President Bush has Never Heard Of

In a recent meeting regarding rising rates in childhood obesity, President Bush oversimplifies the answer, urging parents to go for a hike with their kids.

(PRWEB) February 4, 2007 -- According to Jerry Hill, founder of Alexandria-based FitForce Camp, he agrees that it's a great idea to get kids outdoors, but he adds that it won't work unless you get creative. "Kids are going to quickly tire of 'hiking or conservation', as suggested by the President and his team." He recommends parents "engage kids through games or challenges" to make it interesting.

As the rates of obesity in America continue to escalate for adults, and more notably for children, it's more than a walk around the block that's needed. Physical fitness needs to be incorporated into families' lives, and the only successful way to do that is to make exercising interesting for all family members. Hill often uses home-made equipment with his camp members to introduce unique movements, making exercise novel and fun. "Bush is on the right track by supporting exercise that doesn't require fancy equipment" states Hill, "But there's more fun to be had in burning calories." Hill suggests parents use items from their garage instead of spending thousands on a treadmill or an elliptical. "You can pick up an old tire, usually for no charge, and turn it into a fun and effective workout tool." He goes on to talk about how anyone can make their own medicine ball, "Puncture a basketball with a tire repair kit and fill it with playground sand. Seal up the hole with some glue and you're all set to play."

Inspiration to exercise comes from making it fun and effective. Hill recommends incorporating these 7 movements:

1. Tire sprints; "Take a piece of rope. Tie one end of it around the tire, the other end around your waste and then take off running (or walking)."

2. Tire Flips; "Squat down and flip a tire forward for distance."

3. Tire jumps; "Jump in and out of the tire for repetitions or total time."

4. "If your kid is old enough have them hit the tire with a sledgehammer! Most hardware stores carry and 8lb sledge, kids will love hitting that tire!"

5. Medicine ball thrusters; "Hold the ball high on your chest and in front of your face, squat down and as you stand up throw the ball in the air. Creating an 8 foot target for your kid to hit will increase the challenge and make it more competitive."

6. Medicine ball hurls; "Throw the medicine ball for distance, run to the ball in between attempts. Cover a set course and attempt different style of throws; underhand scoop, overhead or shot put."

7. Medicine ball slams; "Hold the ball over your head and slam it to the ground, squat down to grab it and repeat." "This one is a FitForce Camp favorite."

The best thing a parent can do is exercise right along next to their kid; scale the repetitions, weight or distance and create a solid exercise bond with your child.

For more outdoor exercises, get instant access to Hill's free report; 21 Exercises for Your Fitness Survival by signing up for his newsletter at http://fitforcecamp.com

For more information on President Bush's meeting see Associated Press Writer Deb Riechmann's article; "Bush Urges Parents to Get Kids Outdoors"

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