That's Fit

My kid wore a pedometer to school the other day. Nothing sophisticated -- more like a toy -- and I'm not even sure I should trust its final after-school number but once Joey and I connected after his second-grade dismissal, he showed me how many steps he'd taken throughout the school day. The final tally: Almost 4,000.

Seemed like a lot at first. I mean, don't kids mostly sit while receiving their elementary educations? Apparently not. And after further thought, I realize that my kiddo walks from our car to his classroom in the morning, he walks to lunch and back, he walks to "specials" -- like Art, Media, Music, and Physical Education, where he then walks some more and then runs, jumps, pulls up, pushes up, climbs, and jumps rope. There's also recess, and I've got a pretty good idea Joey and his pals race the entire time. Walking out of school and to the car wrap up the activity of the school day. I guess 4,000 isn't so much, then, given my 7-year-old's day of motion -- which of course, continues once we hit the front door of our house.

Does Joey log 15,000 steps per day, the recommendation for healthy, active boys ages six to 12 (girls this age need 12,000)? I can't be sure because a pedometer is not something he usually wears. But I bet he comes pretty close -- biking, skating, scootering, and ripsticking are his usual after-school activities (yes, he does watch TV and play on the computer too). All I really need to know, though, is that he's an active boy. It's lifestyle steps that keep kids in a healthy weight zone, after all. And this guy lives a pretty active lifestyle, So, yep, I think he's OK.

How many steps does your kid take? And what about you -- 10,000 should be your goal.