As the cold weather is setting in, Texas Children’s Hospital has some tips to help keep your children warm and safe while playing outside or participating in outdoor sports and events. These tips are especially helpful if your family will be participating in marathons or running in events such as Texas Children’s Kids’ Fun Run – which is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011 – but they can be used as guidelines for any outdoor play.
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Safety tips
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Before participating in any sport, be sure your child warms up by walking for two to three minutes at the minimum.
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After warming up, stretching is important. Stretches should be held for at least 20 seconds and repeated two to three times after the workout.
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Dressing appropriately
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Clothing
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Be sure when training in the winter time your child is dressed accordingly. Layering allows kids to adjust to changes in weather as well as changes in body heat generated. The deepest layer should allow sweat evaporation and the outer layer should be water/wind resistant. Middle layers should be designed for warmth and insulation.
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Shoes for running
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Be sure your child has a good pair of running shoes. The best running shoe is the one that fits well, feels comfortable and is built to support the differences in people’s feet.
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Accessories for disabled
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Children who use walkers or wheelchairs may want to wear gloves to reduce the risk of developing blisters on their hands.
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