reducing obesity in children ..

[clumsymum]

By teaching them all to cook. Will it work, or should they look at turning back the clock, getting all the school playing fields back, and getting them more active again.

Don't know of any tennis round here LOL.

I'm hoping once he starts at middle school in September he'll be able to join a/some school sports clubs - unfortunately his infants school - as great as it is, just doesn't have the facilities/staff to be able to offer much.

you can take your oldest child to lessons and go in the pool with the other 2 - that way you get around the "only 2 child to every adult" rule

But would it cause us harm not to be able to buy rich tea fingers and such?

I mean, one still could bake their own bikkies, etc...

why bother with biscuits at all???

i think setting an example is important, too.

if they see you enjoying eating well and cooking and being physically active, it's a big help.

school is there to teach kids to read, write, maths, etc., not parent your kids.

It's one to one under 4 though isn't it? FAQ football is expensive round your way. We paid about £30 in the summer and £20 for winter training but that is the lot for the year. And kit provided. I only got DS doing it because I thought he ought to channel his football obsession into actually playing it.

Thing is this teaching cooking in schools isn't really a new idea is it? My mum had cookery lessons at school - and she's in her 50's now! Actually it was at school she learnt to make pastry - and damn good pastry too.

bozza - I've just been checking the new local pools website - it's definitely no more than 2 children per adult for under 8's.

DH had cookery lessons in school and he's only 30

faq we have that rule at the pool but no one really pays any atention

but as i said befre your oldest child could be in the pool having lessons and you could be with other 2

i had home economics twice a week at my school (34)

yes - I suppose I could do that- but it wouldn't make it any cheaper/easier to get to/more convenient time LOL

damn I should be writing a covering letter and filling in an application form.......but I'm going round in circles and having pointless debates on MN is much more fun

well i think its worth it
it IS a faff to get all swimming stuff together, going to pool, getting dressed and undressed, paying for it all...

buts it worth it. my dds say its their favourite thing ever

nailpolish - I don't know how much the lessons are - but even if it was just me and the 3 DS's going swimming on our own (without DH and without paying for lessons) it's nearly £7 - that's doesn't include making sure I've got a £1 for the lockers.

Getting the stuff together doesn't bother me - and as DS1 and 2 are really great at getting dressed/undressed that wouldn't really be a problem either.

DS1 would cope ok with walking there and back - but I know DS2 would be a right royal PITA walking home again. The "all welcome" sessions at the pool during weekdays would mean that I wouldn't be getting home until probably close to 6 - and I'd still have to cook the dinner and do the whole bedtime routine.....

They probably would enjoy it - but I wouldn't.....to much stress involved in the 3.30-8pm slot of the day as it is LOL.

Only 8 months until DS1 starts his new school - and I can't see him getting anything remotely close to obese in the process of waiting so we'll just hang fire until he starts there and get him signed up to their after school sports stuff.

my lot take very little exercise and it worries me. They are thin as peices of string but I fret whats going on inside. We don't own a car so walk everywhere but they rarely accompany me now they are teens and spend 12 hours a day on the computer.
But You can't make them.
They can all cook though.

Well mine have all done cookery at secondary and TBH it's crap. Nothing like the Home Ec we did in the 70's.

They have made

flapjacks
melting moments
pizza (bought the base!)
designed a sandwich
fruit crumble

Not exactly inspiring is it or healthy?

If the government really want to make a difference by making cookery compulsory than they need to take a look at what's already being taught, bin it and start again.

And I still aren't seeing these obese children around here. My area comes top of most of the league tables that you don't want to be top of and I'm sure we were up there with obesity but I don't see it in the children. I work in a primary in a pretty deprived area and out of 200 children there are two who I would say are overweight.

Parents need to take responsibility for their off-spring and their own behaviour. If they cannot cook, then learn. There are lots of cookery classes on offer at adult education centres and they are available during the day as well as in the evening. The classes are discounted for those on low or no income and even if they are not discounted, make sacrifices to pay for them.

If you don't or can't attend class, libraries are teeming with cook books so if you can read, just follow the instructions.

Also, parks are free. Children can run round them, kick a ball and generally play. Walking is free too so how about just walking with your child and observing the world around you? You do not need to spend money in order to exercise.

Children only spend about 6 hours a day at school for about 38 weeks in the year. The rest of the time they are with their parents. If a child is obese, the responsibility lies with the parents, not the school imho. Schools can only do so much.

Cut the portion sizes, cut out the snacking, eat nutrious food and spend more time moving. Also, before anyone accuses me of being smug blah, blah, blah, I'm not. The reality is parents can and should do more but too many don't and expect the government/schools to wave a magic wand and hey presto, problem solved.

Take responsibility.

If I limited their computer time (and frankly not sure how) I would have two teens moping around driving me insane. I'd rather they were doing computers than out mugging poeple.
ds1 says he gets enough exercise walking to school and doing games (4 hours a week +)
And I've given up cooking food to be thrown away. Again, you can't make a teenager eat something he doesn't want too.
But they do have to walk places as I refuse to get a car. I reckon that obesity has gone hand in hand with kids being driven everywhere.

''But they do have to walk places as I refuse to get a car. I reckon that obesity has gone hand in hand with kids being driven everywhere.'' Totally agree with you 'Needmorecoffee'. There are many things which can be based on the car-dominated society. Part of the over-reliance on convenience foods is that some people really don't have much time to cook because they are working long/unpredicatble hours; they wouldn't be able to work these hours if it weren't for the fact we all have cars. Employers expect people to stay late/ attend last minute meetings which they simply wouldn't be able to do if they were reliant on public transport to get home. Sorry - slight hi-jack but think about it.

All the children at the special school I work do two hours a week of Lifeskills and this includes cookery. I think its a great idea.

They also learn things like how to put together flat pack furniture, budgetting, how to use a washing machine and a bit a childcare, applying for jobs, reading body language and social skills in lifeskills.

I think that children with a high IQ would benefit from practical subjects as much as low IQ children.Reintroducing it into mainstream schools is well and truely overdue.

Sorry - 'many things which can be BLAMED' not based.