Raising an Active Family

Raising an active family
Sources: Carole Gnatuk, senior extension specialist for child development
Debbie Murray, associate director for Health Education through Extension Leadership

Most parents know children are like sponges, constantly absorbing our words and actions. By practicing healthy habits with your children, you can set them on the right course for a healthy life. One way to do this is to encourage family physical activity.

It’s not hard to be active. Simple activities, such as playing in the backyard or walking, can get family members moving and enjoying time together. Set aside a daily time to play with your children. An hour is ideal, but any amount of time you can devote would be beneficial to you and your children. Be sure to pick an activity that all or most family members enjoy doing. Change activities daily so everyone can do something they like. Creating your own ideas or games is part of the fun and will help create life-long memories.

Here are some simple ways to incorporate physical activities into family time:
· Mark off a hopscotch court on the driveway or sidewalk. Teach your children how to play and then do it together.
· Visit a farmers market. Walk and talk about the foods. Buy something to prepare at home with the children.
· Keep low-cost toys around the house that you can pick up at a moment’s notice. Flying discs, jump ropes and balls of various sizes give many choices of games to play.
· Make a kite out of items you have and go fly it. Figure out together how to make it work better if necessary.
· Plan a “wash day,” where you wash wagons, bikes, outdoor toys – and even the family dog.
· Turn up the music and dance.
· Work in a garden. Teach children how to start and take care of flowers or vegetables.
· Set limits on the amount and quality of television and video games you permit family members to watch.
· Teach your children activities you enjoyed as a child.

These are only a few ideas out of thousands of possibilities that can make your family more active and closer. Many physical activities provide an opportunity for family members to discuss their days and get to know each other better.

For more information on physical activity ideas and other healthy lifestyle choices, contact UK Cooperative Extension Service.

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, sex, religion, disability or national origin.

Kentucky Farms are Fun

‘Kentucky Farms are Fun’ -- especially in tough economic times
By Aimee Nielson

BOWLING GREEN, Ky., (March 11, 2009) – More and more, Kentucky farmers are inviting their neighbors, school groups and the general public to come have fun on their farms.
In the past several years, agritourism or “agritainment” has really taken off in the Bluegrass state as former tobacco farmers try to diversify and hobby farmers look for niches to supplement family-supporting income. Even amidst the economic downturn, many farms offering agritourism activities have managed to stay afloat and even thrive.

Janet Johnson, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension agent for family and consumer sciences in Allen County, recently took part in a Kentucky Farms are Fun conference in Bowling Green, where farmers offering agritainment throughout the state came together to share ideas and get inspired by some great speakers.

“Farmers, of course, are eternally optimistic about next season, next year, so there is that inherent value of living on the farm to show that we can survive,” she said. “We can make it, we can have good times. Even in bad times, families can find things to do together because you can have fun on very little.”

She said farms naturally are places that provide a family atmosphere – a place to build relationships, find friendly people and just have fun. “Almost everybody I know in this business had a good year last year. It was just a common theme all the way through our type of business,” said Bill Jackson, owner of Jackson’s Orchard near Bowling Green. Last year, he said, farmers in agritourism saw some of the economic pinch with $4 gas; however those prices did tend to keep people closer to home, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for agritourism. “I think maybe folks aren’t going to take the long vacations, but they are going to take vacations. Maybe it’s just a half-day to come out to our farm,” Jackson said. “But they are going to have time with the family; they are going to look for recreation things … to do, and we’re close to home, and we offer that opportunity. I think our business is great; I think this whole agritourism segment is perfectly positioned to grow during these times.”

Larry Snell of the Kentucky Center for Agricultural Development told farmers that good times usually follow tough times. He said farmers have been dealing with uncertain economies for a long time, since they not only have to deal with the general economy but also with the weather.
“You’ve gone through tough times before,” he said. “You’ve survived them very well. You need to be a person that sees the glass as half full rather than half empty. The sun goes up, and the sun goes down, and in between those times, we can accomplish a lot. From what I hear, yes, people have less money, but they aren’t going to give up vacations and entertainment. They may cut down length and distance, but that is an opportunity for us in Kentucky, and we can offer them fun, enjoyable and affordable fun, on our farms.”

UK Cooperative Extension Service has offices in every county and farmers can contact them or the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for more information about agritourism. Kentuckians interested in finding a nearby agritourism opportunity can visit http://www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com/ and search by attraction or region.