Helping my 7 year old son....

jenniferinfl

Find a fun activity you can do together. When my daughter's 5 we'll be at the local rock climbing gym. She's four right now and so there's a lot she just isn't allowed to do yet. We have a two mile loop trail by our playground, so we walk that first and then she plays at the playground for an hour or so. She also loves doing exercise videos on youtube. She doesn't do the moves correctly, but, she's moving.

Since his problem is running, the cure is probably to take him walking/running. You could always go at it at the angle that your just trying to help him to get faster for sports instead of mentioning the whole weight loss thing.

There are fun runs for kids in our area, mud runs, and zombie runs. Our local Y has a steeplechase race for kids this weekend where they scramble over hay bales and stuff. So, training with a goal in mind might help. Zombie runs might be really appealing. Color runs are fun, so are flavor runs and some of those allow kids.

Just one example:
http://www.thezombiemudrun.com/photo-video-zombie-mud-run-zombie-mudder

Angiefit4life

Not exactly the same age but wanted to share. Before we started our new life change (hubby and I) my 15 year old has always been heavier than others. Our 17 and 9 year old are thin. We didn't want to cause any issues by making it an issue. Changing what we brought in the house ( treats are still in play just not readily on hand) and he is now very active with his dad outside. (No pushing he loves being with his dad ) he is definitely leaner now and it's amazing when I get a text from him telling me his new run time at school. No better reward than that!

alexistexas33

I did this back then, if I was my mom back then I would honestly throw out all the sweets and junk food in the house
Also do not force him to work out, allow him to enjoy it
Also, he's 7, he hasn't hit puberty yet

snowflakesav

He is 7. you'll have fun finding some fun activities.

LKArgh

At this age, exercise should be fun. Let him pick up a sport he likes. Make it a rule he needs to do some physical activity, but let him pick what this activity will be each year.
Limit his screen time, and encourage him to do physical activities. Go for a walk together. If you have a back yard, porch, garden etc, set up a hoop and encourage him to play basketball, or draw a goal post with chalk so he can play soccer etc. Get him a bike and schedule rides once a week. Or goto the park on weekends to play together his favourite game.
At home, get rid of junk food: juice, soda, biscuits and so on. Do not make them off limits completely, but schedule them. For example, if you are going to give him a glass of soda with his dinner, buy one can, not 6 bottles, even if the second is cheaper and more convenient. If he is going to have ice cream as a treat, buy one small portion, do not keep a huge container in the freezer to avoid temptation. Or even better, plan a walk or bike road together with the goal of getting an ice cream and eating it on the way home.
Prepare yourself his favourite treats, in more healthy versions, for daily eating. A home made cake or sweet bread can have much less sugar and fat than whatever you buy, and involving him in the making makes it more fun and it always tastes better Make your own everyday popsicles with fruit. They are a treat all kids love, and it is actually healthy for them. And so on.

LAWoman72

tcunbeliever wrote: »

With my kids I don't limit their intake of foods, but I do limit the number of times they get "junk food". To me junk food is just about any food that comes out of a box or can. So, they are fed a lot of what I consider real foods, meat, vegetables, fruits, grains, etc. but we only have processed foods or go out to eat about once a week. The 2 I have still at home are 11 and 13, so they eat unimaginable quantities of food, but are still a healthy weight. My rule is that they have to be in some kind of activity, but beyond that I don't make them exercise. They are pretty active on their own.

All parents are doing the best they can, don't beat yourself up if you have started some unhealthy habits, just do the best you can to alter them and lead by example.

This is basically what I've been doing with my 11-year-old...he has lost seven pounds and grown an inch. So currently he is 4'7.5" and 100 lbs. even. He has no clue any of this is for weight loss...when I ask him to get on the scale I tell him it's because I'm recalibrating it and want to make sure I get an accurate weight. He is intellectually delayed and this explanation is good enough for him - he translates it to "Mom is just doing something for her."

Of course he noticed the food changes and griped about them. I explained that we are all trying to get healthier. We all eat this way now, with my exception being that I also limit my calories.

ETA: I did take my son to the doctor when he gained, plus "slowed down" (physically). He had a full blood panel and thyroid panel. Everything has come back fine. I do think seeing the doctor is a good idea, but don't tell your son it's because he's heavy. I would suggest telling him instead that he's due for a checkup and that you as his mother want to know he's healthy. All of which I'm assuming is true, it's what most of us parents want.

I am assuming all this is about weight since you're posting it on a weight loss board. If he isn't overweight, but is bringing up the rear anyway, you can encourage his physical capabilities by playing sports with him - in the front yard or the park or wherever. (That is, if it's as important to him as it is to you. Not every kid WANTS to be great at sports.)

But yes, we do pass along the bad as well as the good to our children. For instance, I was always a slow runner...very slow (and definitely NOT overweight, not even close); and just overall not very good at sports. It was definitely NOT down to inactivity/being out of shape/sitting around too much - we're talking the 70s and 80s when kids walked or biked everywhere...and I do mean everywhere. A mile and a quarter to school (I Google mapped it as an adult out of curiosity) and home again, walking fast and carrying heavy books; then bike or walk to friends' houses, into town, etc. after school. My God we never freaking sat down in those days, we were "young and healthy" and expected to constantly be outside. So it wasn't being out of shape that was the issue. I can only put it down to genetics. My mother wasn't exactly a hotshot when it came to sports either.

In addition, I was always very clumsy and uncoordinated. I still am. For things I want to be more coordinated at, I make a concerted effort. Other things I just let go.

Perhaps let your son make the decision of what he wants to excel at and what he just doesn't care about - again, in the case that this might not be about weight but instead, just about general capabilities.