Make your child feel like a superhero

Want to set your child on the road to fitness and good health? You’ve got until the age of seven to put good practices in place, according to LazyTown’s superfit superhero Sportacus.

The creator of the TV show LazyTown and Sportacus, Magnus Scheving took time to meet babyexpert and share some tips about encouraging your child to be fit and active.

Magnus (aka Sportacus) says, 'I want to find a solution to obesity. Everybody wants to be healthy and we need to help them.'

The Icelandic star is convinced that if you can get the exercise and healthy eating message across to children in a fun way, before your child reaches the age of eight, then you've got them for life.

'After that age it is harder, they are more set in their ways,' Magnus says.

'I believe that mothers, parents need to recognise that the years from 0-7 are the most important time of their kid's life.

'This is when you can get them to eat fruit and vegetables - and fish! Omega 3 is really important for a child's development. This is also when you learn how to walk, talk, manners, routines – you learn everything.

‘This is why it’s so important for you as a parent to think about your home, your life, your diet, how you behave.

Inspire your kids that this is how you live your life. Don’t talk about it – do it!’

 

Magnus adds, ‘My message to parents is, you have to give kids the self-esteem to want to look after themselves and do well for themselves. This is the biggest gift you can give them.

‘Be honest about when they are good or not good. Inspire them to be positive rather than negative.

‘So they can only manage to do one push-up: one push-up is great!’

LazyTown has teamed up with an organisation called FitKid to set up a series of fun fitness clubs for children, starting across the UK in February 2009.

Sessions incorporate the LazyTown music and dances, along with play equipment such as parachutes, space hoppers and balls. Parents can also book LazyTown-themed children’s birthday parties.

As Magnus (Sportacus) says, ‘I believe all kids are superheros.’

 

The LazyTown Live stage show was one inspiration for setting up the LazyTown FitKid programme – 63% of children who attended the live shows in 2008 said they wanted to live more healthily as a result of watching it.

If you can’t make it to one of the LazyTown Live performances, but you too are inspired by Sportacus’ message, there are easy ways to incorporate the LazyTown ideals into your life.

Says Magnus, ‘Encourage your child to live an active life without even realising it.

‘This weekend, sit down with your child and together write a big list of 52 things you’ve never done before: one a week. Write down 52 activities that you’d love to do. Maybe go swimming, jump on a trampoline, go skiing, ride a tandem, jump in every puddle on the way to the shops, climb a tree.

‘Then every weekend through the year, choose one of your activities and go out and do it!’

Find out about LazyTown FitKid Clubs at www.fitkid.co.uk or tel: 08700 85 1000. LazyTown Live! 'The Pirate Adventure' will be touring nationwide from 29th January. See lazytownlive.co.uk for venues near you. You can watch LazyTown on CBBC or on Nick Jr. Visit www.lazytown.com for more information.

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