Fighting Childhood Obesity

Fighting Childhood Obesity:

Childhood obesity has become one of the most pressing health issues in England. The prevalence of overweight children is on the rise, and with the extra weight, increased risk of heart disease, bone and joint problems, diabetes, sleep apnea, social and psychological problems such as stigmatisation and even poor self-esteem. Experts agree that exercise is a key factor in reducing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Everywhere you look you hear of Jamie Oliver school dinners, fat camps for kids, get your kids fit, even the big supermarkets have joined in to help schools support exercise with the “sports for school” and “active kids” vouchers.Your child coming home from school crying at being called fat is one of a parent's worst nightmares.

You can't just tell a child to diet and lose weight but you can help. We at Big Game Hunters have noticed an increase in the sales of trampolines and climbing frames throughout the last few years. Research has shown that parents worried about their child's health are one of the main reasons behind the current trampoline boom.With the longer warmer days around the corner sales are starting to pick up once again for trampolines, over the last 5 years we have seen an increase in the sales and this year looks set to be the same. Getting children to "exercise" though can be difficult. But you won't need to convince them to have fun jumping on a trampoline! Children love to have fun and a trampoline to bounce on doesn't feel like the children are being told to exercise, it's fun and something that the whole family can join in, who can do the biggest star jump, turn around and still land on your feet, or just fall over and laugh. Children are naturally full of energy and need a means by which to release it. Outdoors toys are perfect for children to not only expend their seemingly endless energy, but to also develop important interactive and coordination skills. Using outdoor toys improves muscular ability and promotes critical thinking in children

Studies have shown that human beings respond positively to being outside and that we inherently crave the outdoors and fresh air. Some medical experts have also said that children begin to develop autonomy and independence from their parents while exploring outdoor environments. They discover that they are able to do things they didn't know they could do, which gives them a great sense of self-esteem and desire to learn and do more as an individual. Climbing frames are another fantastic and fun outdoor toy for children. These can include slides, ladders, monkey bars, climbing walls, swings, poles, swinging rings, bridges, and even a small playhouse. It doesn't require much coaxing for children to take action and play hard on a climbing frame. They'll use their imaginations all day long creating scenarios with pirates, cops and robbers, knights and princesses, and lots of other characters, all while climbing, sliding, swinging, and using every muscle in their growing and developing bodies.

Kids love board games and they will always be classic way for children to learn simple skills like math, colour balance and coordination. These toys are available in giant versions which you can take outside, giving more space, fresh air and getting the children out of the house. Garden Games are perfect for playing outside and thinking “outside the box”. With things like the giant tower which takes a table top game outside onto the grass. Help your child to fight the current issues and get them active and outdoors with a whole range fun. Big Game Hunters has a world of ideas to your kids outside and having fun and taking the worry away from the parent.

Big Game Hunters are one of the largest specialist retailers of trampolines and outdoor toys in the UK. For further information or images call: 01865 392439 or visit: http://www.gardengames.co.uk/