However, most parents are not psychologists, and these incentives rarely work.  They are usually too short-sighted, causing the child to focus more on the tangential reward than on the long-term goals they should be adopting.  Naturally, as soon as the incentive is removed or the parent is not around, the child reverts back to whatever habits he or she chooses.

Most children are too young to fully understand all the ins and outs of nutrition and metabolism.  So, of course, they do not understand that it is not just important that their parents see them eating right, but that they actually do it consistently.

Family members almost always have the best of intentions when it comes to helping an obese child lose weight.  Unfortunately, they simply do not have the expertise necessary to effectively and positively reinforce the appropriate behaviors.  And parental misbehavior comes in all types; some will comment negatively on their child’s weight, creating an un-supportive atmosphere, while others will say nothing at all.  Both behaviors are wrong, and it is hard to know exactly where in the middle you should fall as a parent.

At a weight loss camp your child will get nothing but positive reinforcement.  This means that your child will be rewarded for the progress he or she makes, but will not be punished or degraded when progress is not made.  Rewards will not consist of food, but rather personal interaction and recognition.

Most obese kids have nothing but negative experience with humor.  They are used to being the punch line of every joke and constantly being laughed at.  Weight loss camps for teens offer an environment in which your kid can learn to use laughter in a positive way.  Specially trained counselors will help your child deal with criticism in more positive ways that do not hinder or get in the way of his or her ultimate goals.

The reason positive reinforcement is so successful is because it makes kids feel like they are being treated like people; it fosters a positive attitude that spreads from the counselors to the kids, and then from the kids to each other.

This environment of positive energy and encouragement gets even the most reluctant teens excited about being part of a group.  Weight loss camps for teens provide a feeling of acceptance for kids that many of them may never have experienced before.  If you are having trouble instilling healthy habits in your child concerning diet and exercise, a weight loss camp is probably the right decision.

Movies and video games are so fast-paced nowadays that any successful plan for getting your kid to exercise has to bring in the element of fun; there has to be a purpose for the physical activity, some objective in all the huffing and sweating besides just doing something that is healthy.  Most parents simply aren’t able to keep up with their kids’ youthful, energetic cravings for stimulating activity.  A weight loss camp for kids is a great solution for parents who feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of providing their kids with entertaining exercise opportunities.

There is, after all, only so much a parent can do.  Most adults consider themselves lucky if they have time to go for a walk a few times a week.  Getting your children to go on such walks with you is a great start to getting them excited about exercise, but most children crave more – things like walking through the woods and identifying wildlife – and while most parents can do these things occasionally, it is nearly impossible to keep up with a child’s curiosity.

How often are you able to take your kids swimming?  This activity is great exercise, and, even if you are able to go with your kids once a week, they could always benefit from the opportunity to swim more often.

There are other ways you can get your child to engage in calorie-burning activities too.  Think of ways to turn tasks around the house into goal-oriented exercise, assigning chores or paying for help around the house with things like walking the dog.

Any kind of game involving the whole family can be a source of exercise.  Even if there does not appear to be much movement involved in the game, simple activities like talking and laughing are great for your heart.  Consider buying your child a bike if he or she doesn’t already have one.  Bikes make exercise fun by giving your child a sense of freedom with every fat-burning turn of the pedals.

Every child is tempted to laze about in front of the TV when a friend comes over; it is your responsibility to make sure they are physically active.  Take them to the park, the mall, or whatever you think might interest them.

In the end, it is tough to beat the outdoors when it comes to keeping teens and kids active.  Camping, whether at summer weight loss camps or just with the family, provides a lot of physically engaging tasks that must be completed, like building a fire, pitching a tent, collecting wood and kindling, and keeping the campsite clean.

Ultimately, both weight loss camps and family activities use a similar tactic in getting kids to lose weight: group involvement.  Feeling good about yourself and feeling like you belong to a group are essential to your success in trying to lose weight.  Whatever method you choose for getting your kids active, make sure you keep in mind their need for a feeling of involvement.

As we all know, losing weight comes down to two things – eating better and exercising more.  That is the formula that has worked for centuries and will continue to work for many more.  For parents of kids trying to lose weight, the common saying of “Do as I say, not as I do” will not work.  Put yourself in their shoes – would you want to sit down to a snack of carrots and celery while the rest of the people snacking with you ate cookies, chips, candy, etc?

So, if you’re making efforts to change the diet of your child, make sure you make similar changes in your diet.  As I mentioned previously, if your kid switches to diet soda or low fat milk, don’t keep regular soda and milk around the house for the rest of the family.  Prepare healthy meals for the entire family and don’t make the diet of one child “special.”  The support you provide by making the same changes as your child will go a long way…and it will benefit your personal health (and the health of the rest of the family) as well.

Since exercise and increased activity levels are equally important, you also need to be a good role model here too.  Set aside more time to play with your kids – take them to the park for a walk or to play on the playground if they’re still at that age.  If they’re a bit older, try things like hikes or playing a game of catch in the back yard.  Or you can do things like go to the local museum or zoo – though not really thought of as forms of exercise, these activities involve a lot of walking around to view the different exhibits – and they can be educational.

Televisions, computers, video games, and other “screens” are also an area where changes will likely need to be made.  Kids today spend more time than ever sitting down playing games, surfing the web, or watching television.  You can make this a family event with things like the Wii Fit that are video games that involve physical activity.  Additionally, be aware of how much time you spend watching TV or using the computer.  Your child will not feel very supported if you tell them they need to go play outside instead of watching TV if they know that you’re just going to watch TV while they’re outside.

Finally, encourage your kids to get involved in activities like organized sports and be supportive by attending their practices and games and providing encouragement.  Also, don’t limit them to the sports that you are familiar with or that you played when you were growing up.  If your kid expresses an interest in something that you’ve never heard of or know little about, make it a learning experience for everyone.

The key is to remain positive.  Summer weight loss camps are successful because they do a great job of removing kids from their “normal” routine, introducing new and fun activities, serving healthy foods, and creating a healthy and supportive environment where making some changes is easy.  With the right mindset and role modeling, parents can be an equally important part of helping their child develop a healthy lifestyle.

Let’s first look at lunch time. The food that most cafeterias offer is generally poor quality and not nutritious. It’s often made with refined carbohydrates and a lot of fat. Popular kid’s meals at school include: pizza, instant mashed potatoes, french fries, battered fish, tacos, and chicken nuggets. Kids undoubtedly love these kinds of meals, but they do nothing for helping to contribute to a healthy diet. As a parent, you can do things like send your child to school with a healthy lunch that you prepare, but ultimately they will be the one that decides whether or not to eat the lunch you prepare.

Second, consider physical education classes and recess. Schools have had their budgets cut and this has meant that school children no longer have physical education every day. The educational demands on our kids have also increased and this has resulted in recess times that have shrunk. Most schools have physical education lessons once or twice a week and each session typically only lasts 20 minutes – a far cry from the hour long sessions I remember from grade school and the daily P.E. classes I took in middle school.

To be fair, schools are not entirely to blame. Budget cuts have literally forced their hand in some of these cases. However, a combination of sitting at a desk for the majority of the day with little to no exercise and very, very few healthy eating choices in the cafeteria is not a good one.

While most parents cannot do much to control what goes on in the day-to-day activities of school, steps can be taken at home and within the family to make some changes. A weight loss camp for kids is a great way to help your child learn about the dangers associated with obesity, learn how to enjoy eating healthily, and give them the self confidence to get more involved in active events like organized sports or even informal activities with friends. Make sure that your kids eat a healthy breakfast and dinner every day, and encourage them to do something active every day after school instead of watching TV or playing video games. A family walk after dinner every night is another excellent idea.

Dealing with an obese child as a parent is not an easy task, especially when outside factors like time spent at school are considered. However, it is possible to make progress. For more information about the strategies used at Camp Pocono Trails or to learn more about our programs, check out our weight loss camps site.