Take 10,000 Steps a Day
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, regular physical activity has numerous benefits for everyone’s health and overall well-being. It can:
- Increase lifespan by 2 years.
- Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 40 percent.
- Reduce health care costs by $300 to $400 a year.
- Reduce the likelihood of high blood pressure and diabetes.
Clearly, making physical activity part of your children’s lives and establishing good exercise habits will pay big dividends throughout their lives. While it can be hard for busy parents to plan for organized sports or exercise, walking just 10,000 steps a day can give you all the same benefits.
You can make a big difference in securing a healthier future for your children with a few easy changes to your family’s daily routine:
- Walk with your children to school every day.
- Walk to nearby stores or restaurants instead of hopping in the car.
- Teach your children to take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalators.
- Park at the far end of the parking lot when shopping with your children. You can take a few extra steps together.
- Go on a family walk instead of watching TV after dinner.
- Walk pets together as a family.
Before you know it, you and your children will be walking 10,000 steps a day. You will reap the benefits of exercise, and your children will have learned good habits to help them stay healthy for the rest of their lives.
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