Children and Child’s Pose

Yoga for grownups — women especially –has become so widespread as to almost be a cliche. Say the name Rodney Yee to just about any middle class woman and watch the response. And I’d be willing to bet many of us have taught our kids a few poses or had them hang out with us while we do our routine (which in my house always devolves into giggles, as I see a little face peer quizzically up at me during a downward dog or feel a cat attack my feet during what is supposed to be relaxation pose).

More and more studios and schools are offering yoga classes to kids. While some are pretty simple, others boast teachers certified by commercial programs and whole curricula built around yoga. Continue reading »

They Say: Let the Wildebeests Run Wild for Sleep

Finally, a little proof that what we’ve all been hoping would happen really does. New research says active kids get to sleep more easily.

So let the little wildebeests run wild, because Mommy and Daddy need a cuddle. Continue reading »

The Fastest Game of Hide and Seek Ever!

This is usually how hide and seek goes in my house, as my kid likes to hide in the same place (in the bed) everytime. Actually, it’s not really Hide and Seek at all but me pretending to seek, then pretending to get tired and taking a nap on the bed (aka my daughter) while the bed giggles and I continually tell the bed to hush up.

Anywho, these kids have mastered speed Hide and Seek. The Key? No furniture.

The “amazing” video after the jump.

Continue reading »

Triathlons for Tiny Runners

Follow a three-year-old around for a day, and you might feel like you’ve run a marathon.  But should tots this tiny be running competitive races themselves?  The New York Times is reporting a surprising new trend among parents with small children:  triathlons for young children.

“What do you think about triathlons for three-year-olds?” I asked my husband, an experienced runner.

“What? Ridiculous.”

“Ri-donk-ulous,” my six-year-old agreed.  “What’s a triathlon?”

Continue reading »

Loud Kids? Good - You’ll Lose More Weight

Who knew there was an added benefit to a screeching child when you want to work out?

A new study says women who pump up the volume on their tunes during exercise perform better and are happier. In other words? Continue reading »

Sebelius Shares Ideas to Fight Obesity

It’s no surprise to anyone who’s been, well, out in public pretty much ever, that there’s a serious obesity epidemic in this country. Two out of every three American adults are overweight and so are one out of five children. Obesity in childhood can lead to a host of health problems later in life, and is the biggest single market for later developing diabetes.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke at a conference on obesity and prevention this week, and touted some new strategies suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help combat the obesity epidemic.

Among them are bringing more grocery stores to underserved areas, expanding schools’ physical education choices, and encouraging breast feeding.

I feel uniquely qualified to comment here since I actually do fit in the obese category. These are all good ideas, Continue reading »

Kids Forbidden to Bike or Walk to School

Here’s a rich one for our desperate-to-get-the-kids-more-exercise society: In the upstate New York town of Saratoga Springs, children at some schools aren’t allowed to bike or walk to school. In fact, when one student rode to school, with his mother, on a bike path, his bike was confiscated (the rule had never been publicized).

The principal goes on at some length rationalizing the rule. Mostly he’s scared of traffic and stranger abductions. Continue reading »

Starving For Two

Guess how many months pregnant the woman in that picture, Maggie Baumann, is? Go on, guess.

What would you guess if I told you she’s starving herself — herself and the fetus. It’s her second pregnancy and she doesn’t want to gain 33 pounds like she did the first time around.

She has what’s being called pregorexia and she writes about it over on MomLogic.

Okay, how far along? Continue reading »