By Eric King, ASLA, King Landscaping, www.EricKingLandscaping.com

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. Physical activity can help control weight; build lean muscle; reduce fat; promote strong bone, muscle and joint development; and decrease the risk of obesity. To grow up to a healthy weight, kids need 60 minutes of play with moderate to vigorous activity every day.

It's getting more difficult to get children to want to go outdoors. Let's Move, a nationwide effort to raise a healthier generation, says eight to 18 year-old adolescents spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media during a typical day.

We are fortunate to live in a warm climate that provides ample opportunities for children to play outside. What we need to do is remove the obstacles that deter them from doing so.

Summer in the south is officially here! With rising temperatures, it is important to take steps to protect those around us who might be vulnerable to the heat, like our children and pets.

Did you know that we lose heat by sweating? Water literally evaporates into the atmosphere and sucks the heat out of our bodies. Children produce even more heat than adults. This is because they have more body surface for their height. Children are also closer to the ground – and to hot pavement. They can easily become dehydrated or overheated.

Here are some tips to keep your children and pets safe in the heat.

ATLANTA -- Georgia Connections Academy has made the grade.

The state's first free virtual charter school received very positive feedback from the parents of its students during the 2011-12 school year.

Almost 90 percent of the parents who responded to a survey gave the school a grade of either A or B, and 92 percent they would recommend GACA to other parents. Eighty-five percent of parents said they were more satisfied with GACA than with their children's previous schools.

About 52 percent of the school's 610 families responded to the survey, according to GACA officials.

"Our parent satisfaction survey really illustrates our commitment to accountability," principal Heather Robinson said in a statement. "We value this parent feedback and use it to help make our virtual school program better. I am very pleased with the results, in particular the positive feedback about our teachers and the curriculum."