Try not to think about how your kids roll their
eyes whenever you offer advice, and how they
said you embarrassed them last time you drove
the car pool. You probably don't realize it (and
they certainly won't admit it!), but your
children are your biggest fans. They've been
watching you their whole lives, starting from
when you could do no wrong (remember those
days?) — and they still learn from what you do,
every day.
That's why Dr. Carlon Colker, Shaq's personal
physician and trainer and the fitness expert on
Shaq's Big Challenge, says that his number one
tip for parents is this: Lead by example. If you
want your kids to eat healthfully, you need to
show them how it's done. If you want them to
exercise, you need to exercise. That means
making smart choices even when you don't want to
— and watching what you say about food and
exercise, too. Kids will pick up on the
slightest cues, like the look on your face when
you take a bite of broccoli or the way you find
excuses not to work out. So be on the alert, and
be a good coach!