Sports Report

BACK ROW: Logan Petersen, Ebrahim Bassier, Ezekiel Botha, Raaid Davids, Callum Wyngaard SECOND ROW: Moegamad Jaffa, Liam Reed, Daniel Wolmarans, Harbin Smith FRONT ROW: Fabio Van Wyk, Traigh Pathon, Rauf Ahmed, Matthew Green-Thompson

One of the fastest growing diseases in South Africa is obesity, with one in eight children now living with it.

“In the last decade the obesity rate in children has increased from one in 20 to one in eight children”, said dietician and nutritionist Professor Rina Swart. “It’s estimated that by 2030, if the trend continues at least three out of every five children will be obese, says Professor Swart.

These statistics indicate that a necessary lifestyle change is needed amongst South African children.

Independence

Physical growth will pick up dramatically on the onset of puberty, which is usually from 10 to 14 years old in boys. Healthy nutrition and a physical lifestyle are essential during the growing years.

These awkward little humans enjoy taking control of what they eat and how active they would like to be. They want to impose their will and thoughts on us as parents. ‘I know what is best for me’. These little people in the big world will create new challenges for parents in what they eat and when they will exercise.

To our parents, let’s keep our children eating healthy

Although children at this stage want to make more of their own choices, parents still need to take the lead when it comes to eating so they can guide their young children in the right direction. This will take some effort in

providing a variety of nutritious foods for them to choose from. What children eat is largely determined by what parents store in the cupboards at home.

As our children grow older they will attend social events with their peers. At these events they will be influenced by what their friends and others are eating.

Is it ok for our children to enjoy a less nutritious meal? Yes. The key is to keep the occasional event from becoming the norm. A healthy diet helps offset the occasional cheat in a normal healthy diet. Would this work the other way round? No. Eating healthy food once in a while can and will never compensate for a diet that lacks proper nutrition.

Fitness & positive attitude

Parents will often look to organized school sports which most, if not all Model C Schools offer as to meet the need for regular activity. The early exposure a child gains from sport can cultivate a love for a particular sport.

As a parent we might ask the question, what if my child does not like sports, is that ok? Yes. There are other ways in which a child can keep fit, by means of walking, running and swimming can lead to a lifelong habit of exercising.

Conclusion

We greatly emphasise a healthy lifestyle at school as well as at home by encouraging our learners to fully participate in the physical education programme, keeping active and having a healthy lifestyle.

It is valuable that we as parents work together with the school in order to promote healthy lifestyles for our learners who are our future generation.

Mr A Gerber