As I parent, I used to despair when I saw my children sat in front of the television. As an activity, it was something that I viewed as being pretty mindless. Video games didn't seem to me to be much better. Maybe my thoughts were representative of my age as much as anything?
My concerns were confirmed, however, when I noticed that a range of scientific studies were suggesting that many nations had a problem with rising obesity levels among children and teenagers. It felt, intuitively, as though the rise in television viewing and video games must be related.
Why should this be? It's clear that both activities actually involve very little movement. Although there may be stimulation of the mind, there was little use of the body. Just as importantly, time spent doing these sorts of activities was time that could have been spent on more active pursuits.
I realised that poor fitness levels in childhood could lead to problems in later life. After all, it stands to reason that people who are overweight and unfit leave themselves open to health issues - this could only be worsened if the problems arose in young people.
It was also clear that bad habits adopted in childhood were likely to persist in adult life. This meant that children who did not get enough exercise were unlikely to transform their habits once they became teenagers or young adults. So what should be done?
There are plenty of solutions available but I decided to concentrate on showing my kids that active pursuits needn't be boring. Just because something is good for you, that doesn't mean that you can't have fun while doing it.
I've started to introduce my children to more and more activities that ensure that they get more exercise. They've liked some more than others. From those that I've tried, I've found that trampolines have been a particularly big hit.
We've got one in the garden and it's fair to say that they love to use it when they get the chance. It's been a big success and helps me to feel that I'm helping them to be more healthy.
Are trampolines right for your children? Maybe, but you won't know until you try. If they don't like them then keep trying until you find an activity that they do enjoy - it's important to show them the importance of a healthy, fun lifestyle.
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