Exercising Options

It's recommended that kids get at least an hour of exercise a day. I notice a huge difference in how calm Ethan is, and how well he sleeps when he gets some pretty intense running around. In the old days, we all just tumbled out the door and played with our neighbors, even when it was chilly, plus we usually walked to school. Now once it's cold, everyone stays indoors, and even preschool doesn't take the kids outside when it's below 20 with the wind chill (like, for example, most of January and February)

I estimate I spend somewhere around 10-14 hours a week trying to make sure Ethan gets enough exericise -- including driving places, making dates, and the actual exericse itself. I have the time -- lots of parents don't have that luxury (ok, when it's happening, it doesn't exactly feel like a luxury to be sitting there watching him play in a room full of screaming kids, but you get the idea). And people wonder why kids are getting more obese......