Child obesity can creep up on you. The cute, round little two year old is now six and getting teased at school. We can hide behind age-old excuses like genes and the belief that they will eventually out-grow the problem, or we can ask ourselves some hard questions about what our children are eating and more importantly, how active they are. Child obesity is a parenting issue and we do our overweight children no favours if we don't take full responsibility for the problem.

However, I cringe at the thought that the child is made to feel like they are the focus of a parent-driven weight loss programme. Such an approach risks creating another set of problems. The emphasis needs to be on improving "the family's" eating and setting boundaries around issues like the family's TV viewing and Playstation time.

Getting started is always the hardest part because any proposed changes are always going to run into a certain amount of resistance from children who are comfortable with the current entrenched behaviours. In many homes good intentions fall over very quickly at this first hurdle. Human beings are innately resistant to change and surprise, surprise our children are no different. You can anticipate some complaining and whining. Children are often expert at wearing you down. Remember you aren't the meanest mother in the world. I won that title yeas ago!

Removing certain items from the pantry so you can't weaken is often a good idea. The sugary drinks and the high fat snacks are a good place to start. Be creative with the foods that are on offer. Fresh fruit kebabs, blocks of ice in the drinking water and straws to drink through are all simple novelties that can make changes a positive experience. Make sure that all the adults in the house participate enthusiastically.

Understand that forming new habits takes time and will not happen overnight. Change by stealth can be a good strategy, that is, change things a little at a time rather than making big changes all at one time.

Including children in the decision-making can sometimes be helpful. If one of the main goals of parenting is to develop children's self-management, then helping them to make good choices is always a plus. However, younger children often learn self-management by first being managed by caring parents.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for parents wanting to reverse obesity tendencies in their children is increasing their level of activity. Most of us have been guilty of using TV as a hassle free approach to occupying children's time so that we can get important jobs done uninterrupted. An important part of encouraging activity is knowing your child. Joining sports teams does not suit every child's temperament. We often confuse being active with sporting activities, when in fact even playing dress-ups is an activity that is not sedentary. Boredom is a choice not a condition and while parents can introduce their children to a range of fun activities, ultimately children need to learn to be self-starters. I used to suggest to my children if they dared try the 'I'm bored' routine on me that they could tidy their rooms. It never failed to produce an instant bout of inspiration about something they could do to occupy themselves.

The greatest obstacle however to getting our kids active and eating better foods is ingrained in our own habits as parents. We need to control what we buy at the supermarket and the number of times a week we resort to calorie loaded fast foods. We need to accept that active kids are noisy and messy and be willing to accommodate that. Your kids are not going to thank you for your ordered, tidy home if the price tag for that was paid by them in lonely years spent as a self-conscious, overweight young person.

Activities

· Water fun – hoses, sprinklers, squirtee bottles, water pistols

· Treasure hunt search for: afternoon tea, pocket money, healthy treat

· Plant strawberries, sunflowers etc (in pots or earth). Water, weed, tend daily/weekly

· Blow bubbles (dishwashing liquid)

· Make/fly a kite

· Skateboarding, rollerblading, scooters, bikes, skipping ropes, pole tennis, Frisbees

· Teddy bears picnic

· Bug catching/fishing

· Put up a tent (make a hut)

· Play a game of 'Spotlight'

· Backyard obstacle courses

· Take the pet for a walk

· Sandpit

· Birthday parties – have picnic at a playground or pool, rather than just eat at home

· Make special drinks or popcorn instead of doing lots of baking

Email Craig on for more tips and suggestions.