Healthy kids are happy kids.
Parents know how hard it is to get into shape after years of little to no exercise and poor eating habits. What most parents don't know, however, is that according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services," Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults." Knowing the ideal weight range for your child is a good way of getting her on the track of healthy living and keeping her there.
Toddlers
Once your growing baby begins to walk he enters the toddler stage. This stage is marked by several behaviors, one of which is the development of picky eating habits. Between the ages of 2 and 4 you will introduce foods daily that will go no further than his small fingers and the floor. To make sure that his taste buds don't keep out vitamins that he needs to grow, be sure to give him whole milk for vitamin D and scrambled or boiled eggs for protein.
Toddler girls should stay between 30 and 42 pounds. Toddler boys should stay between 32 and 42 pounds. Any toddler that is above 46 or under 28 pounds should be monitored for future health concerns such as juvenile diabetes, sickle cell and thyroid issues. This may or may not apply to toddlers who were born prematurely.
Elementary Years
Schools provide recess and physical education classes, but these should be in addition to activities at home.
Kids typically start kindergarten at age 5, and by the fifth grade your child will likely be 9 or 10 years old. These formative years are known for growth spurts and a need for lots of physical activities. The average lunch menu will offer whole milk, vegetables, meat and grain. To help your child stay healthy, see that she gets at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day after school; activities such as playing in the backyard or walking the family dog are good choices for this age.
For a girl ages 5 to 10, staying between 56 and 96 pounds is ideal. For a boy in this same age bracket, the weight range is 58 to 92 pounds.
Middle School Years
Chances are your growing daughter will turn 11 years old when she enters middle school, where she will be with classmates that are between the ages of 11 and 14. Middle school is when puberty begins for many kids. Snacks that can be grabbed on the go will be key to keeping him healthy between family meals. To make sure chips and candy bars aren't the dominate choice, keep the refrigerator stocked with fruit cups, yogurts, cheese sticks and apples.
For girls the weight range is between 98 and 144 pounds. For boys the weight range is 90 to 146 pounds. If your child is over the recommended weight, physicians do not recommend a diet. Instead, you will need to prepare meals that include more vegetables and fruits; this will give them time to grow into their weight rather than lose it.
High School Years
In high school, students are ages 15 to 18 years old. Because being a teenager already comes with the stress of fitting in, trying to discover who you are, and branching out for independence, the last thing a parent should do is add weight concerns to the list. Try supporting your child's involvement in after-school activities and sports when she's in high school. It's also a good idea to open up your old photo album and share what weight issues you might have struggled with and how you overcame them.
A teen girl should weigh between 104 and 160 pounds. Teen boys should weigh between 124 and 188 pounds. Because America is fighting a war on child obesity, summer weight camps are open for ages 11 to 18 to help overweight youth get to a healthy size.
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