The only way most people are going to get exercise is if it is part of their daily routine. Encourage your child to walk or ride a bicycle to a friend's house, the store, the rec center or school. Although more and more schools are reducing the hours of physical education or dropping it altogether, try to get your child in P.E. as much as possible. Some programs may discourage physical education for students with special because "the student needs to spend more time on academics". Research by the Rand Corporation has found that children who have physical education in school are less likely to be obese. In most states, including North Dakota, high school P.E. is required for only one or two years. Encourage your child to take P.E. every year, encourage your school board to see that the school offers enough P.E. classes for all children.
In the summers, getting exercise is far easier on the reservation than in most other parts of the country. The weather is nice and there are many beautiful places to walk.
When the weather makes it uncomfortable for you to walk outside, you need to find other options indoors. The walking track at Turtle Mountain Community College is one option. The other advantage to using this facility with your child is that the more comfortable and familiar he or she is with the college, the more likely your child will feel comfortable with the option of post-secondary education after graduation.
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