Active and physically fit children are much more likely to follow a lifetime of physical activity than sedentary children, says a set of guidelines published by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE).

Additionally, NASPE concluded that "Children and youth who have active parents and family members and who do physical activities with them are more likely to be active than those who are not active with family members."

What sorts of activities should you and your kids attempt? Dr. Judy Young, executive director of NASPE, cautions parents to understand that "children are not small adults," and says, "activity recommendations should be based on the characteristics of children."

Try exposing your kids to a variety of physical activity. If you're a sprinter and your kids don't want to go with you on your workouts, maybe they prefer distance running, group sports, swimming, or martial arts. Another great option would be to organize a weekly family hike through the woods and hills, the childhood pursuit of many an avid mountain climber. NASPE encourages parents to introduce children to skills and sports that last a lifetime, and recommends about 15 minutes of what it terms "moderate to vigorous activity."

Child sports should also encourage motor skill development, the NASPE report says, and calls on schools to make time for physical activity during the day. "Only through devoting time to these skills throughout the day," it says, "will they become a regular part of a healthy lifestyle."