Kids and Treadmill..thoughts?

x_cinder_x
x_cinder_x Posts: 118 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
A month ago, much to my excitement, I was able to purchase a treadmill. Its been great and my husband and I absolutely love it. We have two kids, one eight and one five who have been asking to use it

I will absolutely NOT let my five year old on it. Even under close supervision he is just to young and does not have the attention span or coordination for it. I have however been considering letting my eight year old, I would of course be watching and supervising.

I just don't know. On one hand I am glad he is interested and he keeps saying he wants to use it to practice running and exercising like mom and dad. Yes, there are plenty of other ways to encourage this and I do, but he has been asking me daily about the treadmill (once a kid really gets an idea in their head its hard to get it out lol). On the other hand I am worry he could get hurt from something I am not considering.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    A month ago, much to my excitement, I was able to purchase a treadmill. Its been great and my husband and I absolutely love it. We have two kids, one eight and one five who have been asking to use it

    I will absolutely NOT let my five year old on it. Even under close supervision he is just to young and does not have the attention span or coordination for it. I have however been considering letting my eight year old, I would of course be watching and supervising.

    I just don't know. On one hand I am glad he is interested and he keeps saying he wants to use it to practice running and exercising like mom and dad. Yes, there are plenty of other ways to encourage this and I do, but he has been asking me daily about the treadmill (once a kid really gets an idea in their head its hard to get it out lol). On the other hand I am worry he could get hurt from something I am not considering.

    Thoughts?
    If he falls on the treadmill what will happen? I think it's a fascination with what they can't have. Set it to a slow speed and let him try it. Either he'll like it and want to do it more or he'll grow bored with it and stop bugging you about it. I don't see the harm in it.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    I don't see the harm in it.

    My 4 year old wants to run with me. When the weather warms up, I'll be taking her on runs - very short and slow of course.
  • dbtman
    dbtman Posts: 19 Member
    I have let my eight year old use the treadmill with me standing close by for supervision. I also set limits as to how fast he can walk/run and how high he can set the incline. If you are there to closely supervise, I say let them try.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Supervised, wearing the emergency stop cord, and possibly hanging on for the first bit to get balance. Definitely not allowed to touch the buttons unless told to.
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    does your treadmill have an emergency clip? mine does, my 8 yr old has been walking on it since she was 4, I just make sure she has the strap on. The only accident we had was with my 19yr old son running without the strap(Grrr) and stepped on the side as he was running and it launched him against the wall. No injury but he learned somthing.
  • x_cinder_x
    x_cinder_x Posts: 118 Member
    Thanks for the feedback all! I am going to let him give it a shot.
  • WingMan380
    WingMan380 Posts: 2,139 Member
    I walked my dog on the treadmill once............

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