Yes, Kids Need Exercise, We Get It!

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

19 Sep 2007 12:48 PM

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:

• They need to run
• They need to ride their bikes
• They need to swim
• They need to dance

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?

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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Valorie Delp (49340) 19 Sep 2007 03:12 PM

Thank you for posting this piece of common sense. Good grief. I had someone ask me the other day what gym my kids were going to?! Gym?!? Um. . .apparently the park, good old fashioned playing, and sports involvement wasn't enough. They must join a gym too?! I thought the point was to get kids to like exercise. UGH

Heather Long (16954) 20 Sep 2007 09:04 AM

I am so honestly sick of hearing about it at this point. Every article is the same, it's bad, it's dangerous, blah, blah, blah. Kids and parents alike have lots of options, stop yelling fire and just open the fire exits -- that's what I say.