Numerous efforts have been made in the U.S. to improve children's health and fitness through schools in recent years. First lady Michelle Obama has made strides in her efforts to upgrade school lunch menus and improve children's physical activity through the Let's Move! initiative.

Many school districts are being pressed to expand physical education time, and some schools have incorporated elements such as stand-up desks and school gardens in efforts to associate learning and healthy lifestyles.

It turns out the best education regarding fitness might be found at home. That's the word from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which recently issued guidelines stating childhood obesity can be battled by families who eat healthy meals, exercise and cut down on screen time and other sedentary behavior.

Parents have been known to set examples for their children when it comes to work ethic and character-building, so it only makes sense that the same can hold true for fitness. Children learn language and habits from parents, so adopting exercise is a logical next step. A study undertaken in Southampton, U.K., and published in Pediatrics showed a direct relation to a mother's physical activity and her child's likelihood to be active.

"Parents and other family members are strongly encouraged to adopt the same fitness and lifestyle changes as the child," Dr. Stephen Daniels, the AAP Committee on Nutrition chairman, stated in a news release about the recommendations.

Little steps that might be overlooked can lead to results. A study by the University of Illinois determined staying at the dinner table for three extra minutes can cut down on childhood obesity. A side benefit of that is three more minutes of talking and connecting with your child.

And the benefits are more than physical. Families with adolescents who have dinner together frequently provide emotional benefits to the youths as well.

Family teamwork produces measurable results. According to the Center for Advancing Health's Health Behavior News Service, studies examining parents' involvement in their children's attempts at physical activity led to "a clear positive effect."

But parents must be mindful of stepping too far and damaging the children psychologically. Nearly half of the 8- to 16-year-olds surveyed in a study by the U.K.'s Marylebone Cricket Club said their parents' critical behavior drove them away from participating in sports.

More than 4 in 10 youths said their parents had criticized their athletic abilities. That might be part of the reason — along with dramatic increases in technology — this generation's children have been determined to be less fit than their parents, according to research highlighted by the American Heart Association at a 2013 conference.

The trick is to keep the experiences positive without inserting anxiety. That's no small task given America's obsession with organized sports and other activities.

"Parents need to teach their kids to balance human doing with human being," said clinical psychologist Paula Bloom, adding that the opportunity to explore, rest and analyze are also critical.

Parents have hoped for their children to achieve beyond the previous generation, which has occurred regularly throughout America's history. With the attention paid to classroom education and college and career preparedness, fitness that leads to longer, healthier lives for their children should be a part of that recipe.