Maybe it’s because I’m in the business of following fitness trends, reading and writing about them and discussing how to build your exercise program. Maybe because I work with young children and I have one of my own, I’m a little more sensitive to the issue. But could we please stop using the words “alarming,” “dangerous” and “overwhelming” when we are referring to the issues of childhood fitness, obesity and health?
Yes, obesity is an issue.
Yes, kid fitness is an issue.
Yes, we need to be doing something about it. But parents, teachers, caretakers and many others are becoming desensitized to the warnings because they are everywhere, every day and on everything whether it’s the Internet, the local newspaper, magazines or in the paperwork coming home from school.
No Two Parents are the Same
I know some parents need to hear this information, because if we don’t shock them, they aren’t going to do anything about it. On the other hand, you can also cause people to start blanking out the information because they are just so tired of hearing about it whether it’s a real issue or not.
We don’t need to be told over and over again that it’s a problem. We know it’s a problem. As a parent, as a teacher and as someone who writes about fitness, I don’t want to talk about the problem anymore. I want to talk about the solutions.
Kids Aren’t Adults
Three things you have to remember when dealing with kid fitness:
- Kids aren’t adults
- Kids’ bodies are not like adults
- What works for adults may not work for kids
A child’s body is developing, their bones are growing and they are not capable of and should not be subjected to the types of grueling workouts that we can engage in as an adult. Instead, we have to be more innovative. We have to give them exercise options and workouts that will get them engaged and moving.
The best way to do that is the old fashioned way – to go outside and play:
Kids are naturally active, it’s our modern lifestyle that coops them up inside and keeps them there. Break that door open, get them outdoors and go out there with them. We’re going to keep talking about solutions for kid fitness, because we all know how important the problem is – so let’s focus on solutions.
What solutions do you have?