When we were children in school, there was emphasis on sports and physical education. Sadly to say, today, emphasis has been removed from school physical education, that is education which should be about physical things. Health, fitness, diet, stress, etc. We place priorities on our children to excel in some particular sport. They train from childhood in one focused area of fitness for their sport and neglect the whole picture which includes nutrition. Real nutrition.

Physical education is almost a lost art in schools today. In many schools it isn't even required anymore. How can we possibly expect our kids to grow up healthy without ANY emphasis on fitness as a way of life? Instead we push them into, or encourage them into one particular sport. Our nation has an obvious interest in sports, but, unfortunately, it's from the living room couch. Is that what we want for our children? Is THIS the realistic, achievable goal all our kids can shoot for? Is that the answer to our health problems?

If a child places abnormal stress and weight on his frame during the growing phases, especially of a long term nature, there is increased risk of doing some long term damage to these areas. An example of this is the use of walkers for infants. This places stresses upon different parts of the body which haven't developed enough to sustain such stresses. Accumulated stress damage can and does lead to future problems.

Just as with the bones, the internal organs, glands and tissues are still developing. Abnormal repetitive blows, stresses and forces delivered to any of the developing systems can weaken that system, its structural integrity or its attachment to other internal structures. Out of such actions could arise any number of problems, especially when combined with faulty diet.

We are suggesting a normal, balanced and appropriate level of physical activity be implemented. Such things as heavy weight lifting or one sport activity that usually repetitively stresses the same areas of the body. Even in adults such repetition leads to premature microscopic degenerative changes which lead to injury and major degenerative changes. Kids are no different and are actually more susceptible. We should use caution and wisdom in what we allow our children to do in the way of sports. We should also get involved with the schools which have no physical fitness activity. If we don't, we will be paying for it, literally, at a later time.