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Improve Your Child's Health
 
With each new study into the state of our children's health comes increasingly worrying trends in decline of our children's health. Depending on which report you read, anything up to one-third of UK children are overweight. Not surprisingly, eating habits and lack of exercise are to blame. Exercise is no longer a regular a part of a child's daily routine. Fewer and fewer children have regular physical exercise, and the sedentary lifestyle prevalent in adults has now spread to our childen. Walking or cycling to school and playing outside after school is now rare rather than the norm, and recent studies shoes that children spend up to three times longer in front of a television, game or computer screen than doing any exercise, far less than the minimum recommended. Below we're found some links to some useful websites offering valuable information and advise on eating and exercise.
Random Tips to help develop a healthier lifestyle
Walk or Cycle - Don't just jump in the car by default, try walking to the shops or the park. If it's too far, why not get some bicycles. It's an obvious suggestion, but one that's so often not taken up. It's much more fun and interactive, will help develop their road safety skills, and there's no parking !
Encourage children to help in the cooking - Developing their interest in food and the process of preparing and creating a meal will help to encourage an awareness and appreciation of what goes into a good, healthy meal and encouage them to a healthier eating habits in late life.
Don't switch on the television - Try starting their day in the garden, or take a walk to the shops. Once out of doors they'll probably want to stay out and about rather than plonked in front of the TV or computer screen.
Buy a trampoline - Great for the whole family, bouncing on a trampoline for just half an hour a day helps burn calories, tone muscles and improve balance and co-ordination (and it's also great fun!).
Swim - One of the best forms of exercise, and kids love it. A visit to you local baths or health club can quickly become a good habit, and strong swimming skills breeds confidence in and out of the water.
Play though Sports - Whether playing for the school team or kicking a ball in a park, any form of sports play is helping to burn calories and develop stamina. Popular garden games are widely available and offer a great distraction from the TV.
Watch the Junk Food - It's easy to monitor you child's food intake at home, but do you know what they're consuming outside of it ? Children between 8 to 16 spend some £500 million a year on the journey to and from school on sweets and fizzy drinks.
Useful Links:
Childhood Obesity Reports:
BMA Report (doc)
BMA Report (pdf)
Healthy Eating for Children:
Healthly Living:
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Games and Toys
Games and toys including outdoor garden games and trampolines, garden swings and play equipment, table tennis and football tables and more
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Other products available at the Kids Window:
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