Get them going: A WAFF 48 News special report - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL

How often do your children exercise in the Summer months, when there is no P.E. teacher to organize their activity? Health experts believe it's a challenge parents must reckon with for the health and well-being of their kids.

"Parents have to take more of an active role in the Summer to get their kids active and the key to that is, provide them opportunities," said Kevin Ready, Huntsville Hospital Wellness Center Manager. "Just remember the three P's. Programming, parents and peers."

Ready said Parents have to lead by example and make health a priority in their own lives. Set out to become active yourself and your kids will follow suit.

"You're responsible as a parent to help them establish adult habits now," agrees Registered Dietician Tammy Beasley.

Beasley and Ready both said limiting time in front of television, computer and tablet screens are crucial for a child's fitness. Beasley said you should cap-off screen time at no more than one to two hours per day.

"It has been proven study after study that children of families who really set limits on screen time are five to six more times more physically active than children with families that really have no limit," Beasley said.

They believe parents should also encourage children to participate in group sports and hang around other kids who like to stay active.

"If parents encourage their kids to be around active peers, whether it's through sports or dance or that unstructured play outside, they're going to go a long way toward making sure their kids are healthy and active," said Ready.

However, many parents rely too much on sports practices and games to provide exercise for their children. Beasley said three out of four children at a sports practice get less than 30 minutes of exercise.

Shana Guthrie, a 12-year-old softball player agrees. She said while she's at practice, there's a lot of "hurry up and wait."

"We usually wait, like, until we get the ball hit to us," she said.

Ready recommends children in Shana's situation do exercises and fun activities at home, like sit-ups and push-ups, hula hooping and jumping rope. They require little to no equipment but can provide a good amount of cardio and muscle strengthening.

Beasley said you may also want to add another member to your family to encourage fitness. Buy a dog.

"As a family, go out, play with the dog, walk the dog," she said. "It becomes part of a normal part of your lifestyle, body movement."

Beasley also recommends setting aside time to take a walk as a family after dinner and before bed time. If the weather keeps you indoors, let your child choose their favorite song and follow their lead dancing or doing exercises.

Experts also recommend parents act like their children are the next greatest athletes. Encourage them as though they are already the best. Beasley said the belief will likely transition to reality for the child, or at least a more positive outlook about their own abilities.

Some other tips to keep your child active include allowing them to wear loose-fitting clothes. Don't dress them up in frilly outfits or flip-flops. It will keep them from running around and playing. Beasley recommends buying a pedometer and challenging your child to take more steps each day than they did the day before, or making a game out of climbing stairs in your house.

"Just short bursts, fun, spontaneous, but for the parent, planned," Beasley said.

Beasley said while she encourages activity for all kids, the emphasis should really be on health. Parents should be careful to make the impression that physical fitness is not about being skinny, but about being healthy.

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