Physical Activity

Parents' Endorsement of High-Intensity Team Sports Increases Children's Physical Activity
A study published in Health Psychology found that parents who are enthusiastic about strenuous team sports have children who are more active and spend less time in front of the TV or computer. However, when parents endorse moderate-intensity team sports and vigorous individual sports and household chores, only boys have increased activity levels. Lead author Cheryl Braselton Anderson says this disparity relates to parental attitudes toward the types of activities. "Parents encouraged sons to partake in team and individual sports, and vigorous-intensity home chores, more than they encouraged these activities for their daughters."
"Playing team sports, especially the more strenuous ones, really makes a difference in decreasing both boys' and girls' media use and making them more active," Anderson said. "It is a good idea for parents to adopt a positive attitude toward all types of vigorous physical activities for boys and girls and know that girls can and want to do them."
Read more at:http://www.apa.org/releases/parents-exercise.html