Sing A New Song Homeschool - Does time with parents really make kids fat?

Feb. 28, 2007 - Does time with parents really make kids fat?

I was catching up on my news via various web sites, such as NBC.com or comcast.net, and I came across this article on msn.com:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17384261/

The title of it is "Kids gain more weight when school's out" with the subtitle of "School's do a better job of keeping kids trim than parents, study finds"

Now, I'm all for encouraging parents to exercise with their kids more & mandating schools to serve healthier foods. However, I have lots of strong feelings about the implications of this so called study. Lots of thoughts that are in no organized order:

1. Who's financing the study?

2. Does more time away from the family and in the government system also guarantee solid future mental, emotional and spiritual health the way it "guarantees" future physical health?

3. Whatever happened to summer vacation, a break from school and rules and regulations? The lazy days of summer?

4. How long before CPS and the govt. start regulating our children's diets and exercise routine?

5. I resent the implication that the schools can do anything better than me for my child.

6. Sadly, if we looked at the participants in the study, we would find that the majority of these kids in the study are not home with their parent's during the summer, but either home by themselves or with a daycare provider.

7. Perhaps if the government and any other private company that are so concerned with our children's weight should focus less attention on whose fault it is and how we can keep the kids in our robot making factories longer each day, and instead focus on how to make healthy foods more affordable, or how to get the junk food off the shelves. Maybe they should fine the companies that make junk food and market it towards children. Or maybe they should do something about the cost of living so those of us who do struggle with weight and go broke teaching their children how to eat healthy could actually afford groceries that are organic or hormone free!

8. Likewise, maybe they should offer those of us who participate in organized exercise on a regular basis a tax credit. We belong to a community center/gym, we participate in sports year round, and we regularly take walks, go on bike rides, play in the backyard, go swimming, dance, etc.

9. I find that I am more and more condenscending towards the school system, as well as the government in other areas of life. I'm trying hard not to sin in my attitude toward these systems, but with rumours of longer school days, more requirements, lower scores, teacher inadequacies, and the self-righteous attitude I encounter among the majority of public school teachers I meet--it's hard. I need to keep my attitude in check!

Anyway, these are just my random thoughts that were sparked by this article. I agree that lots of kids have parents who don't care; who leave them to their own vices during time off from school. I understand that, for these kids, school is a safe haven at times and that it may be the only place they get any guidance on health, nutrition, exercise, etc. That breaks my heart! But I don't care for what is being implicated by this study, or that many people will use this small piece of info and say, "See, we told you more school is necessary!"

Just my ramblings!

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Comments

Feb. 28, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Well, one more reason for me to homeschool!!! My barely 65lb. almost 11 year old could not take loosing any weight. So if he is heavier at home, better keep him there!!! :) My 4 1/2 year old isn't much better. We think he is still under 40lbs. Anyways, the reason the kids probably loose weight while in school probably has nothing to do with good nutrition. If it is like when I was in school, then they are probably lighter because the food is so lousy!!!!

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Mar. 10, 2007 - Okay. I see what they are saying, and what you are saying.

Now, here is my opinion:

Kids are not thinner, or healthier, during the school year than during the summer. They are just doing different kinds of things. As far as I can tell, children actually get more exercise outside of school than they do in school. All aspects of childrens lives are not being accounted for in the study. Stress is main factor. And stress, whether good or bad, can cause either weightloss or weight gain. School is very stressful to a good many children.

Also, children at school spend most of their time sitting. They even take away recess at earlier ages nowadays. Children are no longer allowed to go from table to table in the lunchroom talking with friends. Gym two or three times a week doesn't even do much for them, since they are supposed to be getting an entire hour of physical education every day.

I seriously wonder about the validity of the test.

The schools in our area do not serve the healthiest foods (even though they seem to be when you read the menu).

The children in our neighborhood are going, ging, going all the time they are not at school. They are getting a lot more exercise.

My daughters eat pretty healthy, and only one plays a sport at the local high school (softball). Other than that, they get exercise outside of any school. We have even recently signed up at a gym.

I would have to say that it depends on the family. Ours gets a lot more exercise than if my daughters were in school. And they certainly eat healthier.

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Mar. 10, 2007 - Oh pullllleeeeeeeeze

My eyes are rolling so far to the back of my head, they're going to get stuck that way. Kudos for keeping a good attitude; I'm about fed up with all that nonsense.

Blessings,
Keri

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