In other words, if our daughters are going to be able to dance or belt a softball into the outfield, as parents we must encourage their early participation and not think the schools are taking care of that task for us. If they are ridiculed for being fat or for any lack of innate ability, either by peers, teachers, or parents, they will carry this scar with them, making participation in adulthood even more difficult. In childhood we are not only at our highest level of physical energy but also at our lowest level of physical fear, unless we have been taught to be afraid. Young children are not usually afraid of hurting or embarrassing themselves. They will repeat the same action dozens of times in order to get it right because they don't have adult inhibitions about making mistakes and because repetition is often just another word for playing.
Children are open and ready to try new challenges because risks seem like no big deal.
As we get older, and particularly as adults, we become afraid of breaking a leg, splitting our pants, looking foolish or clumsy, or otherwise damaging our bodies or our dignity. Therefore, the best favor you can do the children in your life is to intervene early in sedentary patterns and encourage them to experiment and challenge themselves in dance, sports, and games that help them learn to trust their bodies. Participating with them in physically active family outings will benefit everyone. And if they take physical education in school be sure that their teachers understand you expect them to treat your child with respect regardless of size or abilities. There is nothing quite like a childhood memory of exhilaration and accomplishment to get an adult off the couch and back into the world of physical play.