Kid’s Fitness
Children & Fitness
When was the last time you were able to keep your child still for a few minutes? I can say without a doubt, based on personal experiences with my 10-year old son Austin, that kids are innately active. Research has shown that kids begin to slow down by the age of 12. Therefore, we as parents must help them establish good habits while they are in perpetual motion. According to a well-known child behavior specialist, by the time they complete high school and head off for college or the “real world,” their pattern of physical activity is set for life. What can you do to help your children develop good physical habits? Encourage fitness and physical activity by making it a family affair. Set time aside for each other and go hiking, biking, or swimming.
Please keep in mind that a child’s activity interests and levels may change as they get older, so stay a step ahead of the game and communicate with them about their interests. A typical developmental pattern of a healthy and active child would look like the following:
- First 2 Years: Let the child be active and explore naturally. Develop good eating habits and avoid using food as a reward or bribe.
- 2 to 5 Years: Practice basic skills, such as throwing, kicking, and jumping. Let the experience of coordination be fun. This is a great time to teach them about one of the great virtues of life … patience. Skill will naturally improve with consistent practice.
- 5 to 8 Years: Get your children involved in loosely structured team sports so they can play to have fun, be with friends, and burn off energy. Although children at this age are more prone to accidents, try not to be over-protective and let them work through what are commonly known as “growing pains.”
- 8 to 10 Years: Let your growing kids experiment with individual and team sports activities so that their physical abilities can be assessed. Let the child develop new skills at his or her own pace and offer plenty of encouragement and positive reinforcement.
- 10 to 14 Years: This is the stage where puberty begins and egos become fragile. Let your child’s physical and emotional development, not calendar age, be your guide for a sports activity match. Encourage physical activity that is not competitive to avoid damaging their confidence.
- 14 to 17 Years: If you can make it this far with encouraging positive health and fitness values, chances are great that your children will remain this way for the rest of their lives.
Be sure to encourage and include aerobic activities such as bicycling, in-line skating, swimming, walking, or running as a vital part of the child’s regular activity program. Aerobic activities strengthen the heart and lungs. Aside from the numerous physical benefits of an active lifestyle, fitness also helps kids build character and confidence. Regardless of what age and what phase they are in, selecting physical activities that are both fun and accessible will encourage your kids to stay in shape that much more.