Screen time limits, fun fitness ideas every parent needs to know for child’s heart health

Creating a heart healthy environment in children, needs awareness about what it takes, and having a healthy family encourages other members too to adopt an active lifestyle. As a community, it is important to have open spaces, walking, jogging and cycling tracks while monitoring air and noise pollution also reduces the chances of heart diseases.In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Lakshmy Menon, Consultant Neonatologist and Pediatrician at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Bengaluru’s Bellandur, suggested the following screen-free activities to boost your kids’ heart health and build lasting wellness.1. Activity and exercise :Choosing activities for toddlers and children like running/ cycling/ skating etc. or enrolling them in disciplined sports activities keeps them activeChildren and teenagers need at least 1-2 hours of vigorous physical activity which may include team sports/ games like tennis, badminton/swimming etc.Children and teenagers need at least 1-2 hours of vigorous physical activity which may include team sports/ games like tennis, badminton/swimming etc.An active family becomes a good role model for children. If kids see parents on the go all the time, or they see them exercise it normalises it for them so that they too want to participate with themGroup activities with the family like going on a trek or a hike or pursuing outdoor games really help to bond as well as keep them fit.Involve kids in doing chores around the house so that the amount of time on the couch is reduced.