Ideas for my 13-year-old?

My younger son is 4'10" tall.  We were concerned about him for the past few years because he had no appetite since his surgery complications whi*****luded infection and being in the hospital for 2 weeks.  He also had grown very little. The past 6 months he has had a huge appetite.  He just saw his endocrinologist.  Now he is overweight.  He hasn't grown in height much either. Except for peanut allergies, he has no dietary limitations. My husband and I are concerned for him because we don't want him to suffer with obesity.  Although he is not biologically related to us, his biological background is similar.  He is taking Depakote for seizures.  The doctors say that can really cause one to be hungry.  But it hasn't caused problems since he started taking it over the past 6 years. He has sensory integration issues and does not like the texture or "feel" of some foods. I am trying to get our home organized where we can put an exercise bike and maybe a "Gazelle" machine in there where both boys and I can exercise during the day.  since they both have AD/HD, I thought the breaks and variety might help them with their school work. He is also so impulsive that I can't have him outside unless I am with him.  He waunders off.  The complex partial seizures can also cause him to just "go off somewhere".  Unless it is a severe seizure, I don't always know he has had a seizure.  He has an altered consciousness or he gets irritable with the seizure condition. Anyhow, that is about all I have come up with so far.

I don't know how big your yard is but I was thinking maybe games that involve a lot of activity like Hide 'n Seek or Tag? Maybe basketball, football or catch? I'm thinking things the boys will see as fun vs "work". My girls will not touch the exercise bike but take them hiking and climbing and look out because you can't keep up. I'll tell ya something that down't seem like a lot of exercise but will def cause you break a sweat is Frisbee. My girls LOVE playing Frisbee.  To keep their interest, Ireally have to find things that they can have fun at because it keeps them interested. I know the outside things are rough because the wandering factor but it is really the only way I can think to get them very active outside of a gymnasium or YMCA or something like that. Beth

He can do some things with the Boy Scout troop he is in, too.   He may need surgery again.  His feet are turning inward again.  The surgeon didn't want to do surgery with the area so close to the growth plate unless absolutely necessary. But he might like frisbee or something like that.  He likes to shoot hoops.  But I have to watch out because he will vanish.

Hmm, your in a tough spot.  Have you looked into some forums of homeschoolers around your area and talked to them?  I'm wondering where they all go for activities.  I know here they have a community booklet in the newspaper that you sign up for, and there is all kinds of activities.  Maybe you could find one in a school gym, that would be perfect for you since the doors would be closed and it's all parental supervised.  That way they could do laps, they could play four square, basket ball, hoola hoops, etc.  Even at the YMCA  might have something like that.  I'll think more about it, but so far that's the only thing I can think of since you have to keep supervision under control.

I'm trying to remember what some of my clients did for activities.  Does your doctor have any kind of advice or know of any kind of gyms, etc.  They have to know where to start looking.  For at home, good luck.  I've tried with my kids but it just doesn't seem to work that well.  They get bored very easy and only stay on the equipment for a few minutes and then want off.  Here is a few other ideas I just thought of...

trampolines..ya know the little bitty ones you have in your house.  I think you can also get them enclosed if you choose.   Jumping is good!  I know my kids would love this one.

ddr max, or whatever you call them.  you stand on a matt and step on the pads while watching along with the tv.  my kids have liked this in the past.

mmmm how about videos!  even the walking one does wonders.  Or they could try the dance ones.  I think they rent them out in the library, you could see if they like any of those.  

Well...my brain isn't remembering anything that my clients liked to do.  I think it was more along the lines of community things at gyms, etc.Don't you hate watching your children becoming obese.  I'm having the same issue and it's killing me.  No matter what I try, I can't get a hold of how to correct the problem.  Hope something in this will help, if not good luck! 

What is the ddr max?  Do you know where to look at them?  We do have a mini trampoline and I plan to get it out when we move the furniture around. I thought that maybe we could have a dvd or something on the tv.  The old one we had in there died.  But we want to get a flat screen tv in there.  Exercise may be a condition for having the tv on.  We lock up remotes or they would sit and watch tv all day long.  Maybe I could drill them on math terms or facts while exercising.  Maybe if all three of us do it and switch what we're working on like musical chairs?

You can get them almost anywhere I believe.  Look it up on toysrus website, they will have it for sure.

I checked Toys R Us for the DDR or whatever you called it for my son.  I couldn't find anything that would only have the activity with exercise.  I really would appreciate any help with trying to find out more about it.  My searches turned up nothing.  but that may be because I didn't have the right name to call it.  thank you for any help.

The Wii is very good for exercise too, believe it or not.  The basic program that comes with it has boxing which is a real workout, tennis, baseball, golf.  I see my grandchildren with this and they are really active doing it.  I even tried it myself and managed to work up a sweat with the boxing in particular.  I hear they're coming out with an exercise program this spring to include balance, yoga, etc.  Of course the units are pricey....about $250.

If it would help with exercise, we might consider getting one.  Our niece got one for Christmas.  I need to check it out the next time I visit my sister and her husband.  I try to avoid anything violent.  But that is so hard to do these days.

Nothing violent with the games that come with it....just different sports.  My grandkids play them all and they're 2, 6, and 10  (although my daughter has ruled the little guy can't do the boxing, cause he thinks he can go around and "punch" anyone and it's fun). Lots of different cartridges and games you can buy for them too...might be a good option for exercise in the house.