CHICAGO – Michelle Obama says people worried about youth gun violence have to do more than simply tell children they care about the problem and then wind up “going to these funerals and mourning with these kids when there’s still work to do.”

“They’re looking to us to make the hard choices for them,” the first lady said Thursday. She suggested there are better ways for her to help than becoming publicly involved in Congress’ debate over gun laws that the president seeks.

Providing more creative outlets for children can help, she said in an interview with reporters who accompanied her on a three-city tour for the third anniversary of “Let’s Move,” the anti-obesity program