Limit screen time:

TV, computers, video games and hand held games, all have screens and all mean you're sitting down, glued to a chair.  If your kids are screen-addicted, make it a gradula change, and try to get it down to 30 minutes a day.  or, make a new no-screen rule for school nights.  And don't let them snack whilte they watch TV:  chidlren eat without thinking about it, packing on pounds because they don't stop snacking.

Keep them moving:

Try a new sport this year.  If baseball season is over and you're tired of soccer, look for indoor acitivities.  This can be true because it's too hot outside to enjoy it, because it's too cold outside to enjoy it or just because you want to shake things up a bit.  Any martial art such as Karate or Tae Kwon Do will get kids moving.  Same for dance and gymnastics.  And don't forget those Healthy Girl's classes!  If you can't get an activity in before dinner, try a passeggiata:  In Italy, an after-dinner stroll is called a passeggiata, and it's a great way to walk off the calories from pasta or any meal.

Eat dinner together as a family:

The imprtance of the family dinner table cannot be ignored.  Children who eat dinner with their famlies get better grades, develop healthier eating habits, and are less likely to smoke or drink as teenagers.  So share a meal at a table with your children:  Turn off the TV, put down the newspaper, and talk to your kids.  It's the best 20 minutes of the day! 

You've heard all of this before - from us and all over the media.  It's tried and true stuff.  Hope you find it helpful.  Please feel free to leave any other suggestions for others.  After all, it takes a village . . .