Quiz
1. When your child snacks, she tends to reach for:
- Healthy options: carrot sticks, unbuttered popcorn, pretzels, fruit, etc.
- Junk food or healthy food, depending on her mood and whether I've been nagging her.
- Junk food: flavored potato chips, cheese curls, French fries, candy, etc.
2. How much time does your child spend in physical activities each day?
- Less than one hour.
- 1-1½ hours.
- 1½ hours or more.
3. When writing his Christmas wish list, your child is more likely to ask for:
- A bicycle, rollerblades, or a basketball hoop.
- A toy, a book, a board game, or a combination of things.
- The latest shoot-'em-up for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.
4. When they leave for school in the morning, your kids always:
- Grab their lunch bag.
- Grab their lunch money.
- Grab a collection of junk foods.
5. It's Saturday night, and your son's best friend asks him to come hang out. Your son:
- Immediately asks for a lift, or, if he's old enough, just the car keys.
- Walks if it's within a couple blocks, but otherwise asks for a lift.
- Grabs his house key and heads for his buddy's on foot.
6. Has your child's physician told you that your child is 10 pounds or more overweight?
- Yes.
- No.
- No -- she's overweight, but by less than 10 pounds.
7. Your family is on a long road trip, and it's time for dinner. When you poll the car to decide where to dine, your child:
- Opts for a dine-in restaurant and a break from the car.
- Puts his vote behind McDonald's or another fast-food chain.
- Says anywhere will do, as long as he can get a decent salad.
8. How many hours of television does your child watch each day?
- He catches a couple of his favorite cartoons each day, but that's about it.
- What's a television?
- You mean my child and the television are two separate entities?
9. Can your child recite the words to certain television commercials by heart?
- Yes.
- She knows the tunes, but not the words.
- No.
10. Does your child know television and film stars by their first names?
- I've heard of Hannah Montana...is she the patron saint of the state of Montana or something?
- She considers Leo, Dakota, and Hannah to be her best friends.
- She knows actors' names, but doesn't talk about them as if they were her friends.
1. When your child snacks, she tends to reach for:
Junk food: flavored potato chips, cheese curls, French fries, candy, etc.
2. How much time does your child spend in physical activities each day?
1½ hours or more.
3. When writing his Christmas wish list, your child is more likely to ask for:
The latest shoot-'em-up for Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.
4. When they leave for school in the morning, your kids always:
Grab a collection of junk foods.
5. It's Saturday night, and your son's best friend asks him to come hang out. Your son:
Grabs his house key and heads for his buddy's on foot.
6. Has your child's physician told you that your child is 10 pounds or more overweight?
No -- she's overweight, but by less than 10 pounds.
7. Your family is on a long road trip, and it's time for dinner. When you poll the car to decide where to dine, your child:
Says anywhere will do, as long as he can get a decent salad.
8. How many hours of television does your child watch each day?
You mean my child and the television are two separate entities?
9. Can your child recite the words to certain television commercials by heart?
No.
10. Does your child know television and film stars by their first names?
She knows actors' names, but doesn't talk about them as if they were her friends.
Alas, your child has joined the growing ranks of America's couch potato kids. He spends so much time in front of the TV screen that you've considered moving the monitor outside, just so he'll get some fresh air. Unfortunately, this is not a very healthy lifestyle. If he continues in this trend, your child will likely be looking at health problems down the road.
Your child doesn't seem to be completely the French fries and potato chips type. He would probably be better off spending more time at recreational exercise, but he's not yet fully rooted in the couch. Just make sure that you encourage him towards more active pursuits whenever a choice arises.
Congratulations! Your child has no problem balancing TV time with other activities. In fact, he rarely sits in front of the TV during the week - only long enough to catch a couple of quick favorites. His interests take him up, out, and away as he explores the real world, rather than Hollywood.
