Most kids won’t show an interest weight resistance exercises like squats, is 10 years old, shows good riding skills
in structured fitness or sports until the pushups or pullups to build strength. and is able to follow the rules of the
sixth or seventh grade, and some never road. Some local laws mandate helmets.
do, Brehm continues. Children ages 5
Fun ways to get a move on
to 8 can begin a team sport, as long as
Swimming – The American Academy
the focus is on fun, rather than winning.
Once we get kids excited about fitness, of Pediatrics recommends swimming
This age group is more susceptible to
chances are, they’ll keep moving for the lessons for children ages 4 and up, al-
injury as they develop physical coordi-
rest of their lives. Here is a rundown of though classes are available for babies
nation, so it’s vital to set boundaries.
10 fun ways to get kids going, as rec- and toddlers, as well.
Once children reach middle school,
ommended by the American Council
open doors for them to discover activi-
on Exercise.
Basketball – Develops hand-eye
ties of interest and encourage experi-

coordination and teamwork. Children
mentation. Team sports improve physi-
Soccer – Promotes agility, stamina and
younger than 7 can use a smaller foam
cal coordination and endurance. The
teamwork. Requires protective gear.
or rubber ball and a lower basket.
whole family can play Frisbee, walk,
Obstacle Course – These chal-
bike and skate together.
Martial Arts – Multiple forms improve
lenge kids to use a variety of skills. Park
strength, coordination and mental disci-
playground equipment and jump ropes,
pline. Proper training and equipment to
Fun First, progress Follows
balls, inflatables and cones make it
prevent injury are essential.
happen.
Scott Cole, fitness expert and star of the
best-selling video Abs of Steel, works
Bicycling – Experts suggest riding only
Dancing – Any style, from ballet to
as a personal trainer for overweight
on sidewalks and paths until the child
hip-hop, encourages children’s creative
kids. He also travels with his Get Fit expression and the joy of moving their
America program to schools, teaching bodies freely. They can also get a good
T’ai chi and yoga, aiming to build body aerobic workout dancing in the privacy
awareness and self-esteem in kids from of their own room.
kindergarten through sixth grade.
His approach to kids’ fitness is
Board Sports – Kids love to be on
relaxed and intuitive. “My goal is
a board, whether it’s snowboarding in
to excite them by tapping into their
the winter, surfing in the summer or
interests,” he says. “These kids have a
skateboarding year-round. Injury risk,
chance to reverse the obesity trend. My
however, is higher for these sports. For
desire is to teach kids to make healthy
both snowboarding and skateboarding,
choices for themselves, not to view
kids need to wear helmets and an adult
fitness as someone shaking their finger,
should always accompany surfers and
telling them they should do this.
boogie-boarders.
I’m not a scale watcher,” Cole
Jumping Rope – Jumping rope, still
remarks. “I think that puts pressure on
a favorite on playgrounds, challenges
kids. Progress is a given if they’re stick-
coordination and stamina.
ing with it because they like it.”
Skating – Ice-skating, inline-skating
weights debate
and hockey can be both fun and safe,
using appropriate protective gear.
The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends that weight training not
be undertaken until after puberty and
when bone growth is complete. How-
ever, Brehm notes that she has worked
SIGNIFICANT HE A L II N G
with sixth-graders who enjoyed using
Holistic Practice
weight machines at the gym and did so
safely. She does stress the importance of
Your health care professional should be your partner in
using the proper-sized equipment under
maintaining and improving your health. Someone who
supervision and with extreme caution.
listens to you and respects your self-knowledge and
“If they hit a growth spurt, their muscles
provides you with expert advice and options.
and joints are a little more vulnerable
to injuries,” Brehm counsels, “so they
Victoria Smith
may need to cut back on how much
Holistic Practitioner, Board Certified
they’re doing.”
10 Girard Street . Florence, KY 41042 859.525.8333
Cole doesn’t recommend that kids
www.SignificantHealing.com
lift weights. Instead, he encourages body
January 2009
29
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