Putting a child on MFP
TapouTFTW
Posts: 72
My two kids are fighting the same weight fight that I am. My wife and I are trying to teach them how to eat right but I fear they have the mental block about food I do. I have to keep a journal to really put a finger on my food intake and not cheat. I think my eldest is mature enough to see this and she wants to lose weight. She sees what I am doing and the changes that are happening. She is also VERY goal oriented. My youngest is not near as mature and a free spirit, but she sees her older sister as a role model.
They both dance two to three times a week, plus in are the "Run Club" at school (which equate to about a 1/2 mile a day for my youngest and a mile or so for my eldest). However, they are fat. Fat enough the doctor's give us the evil eye when we take them in for check ups (and they should).
What are your thoughts about starting children on MFP?
They both dance two to three times a week, plus in are the "Run Club" at school (which equate to about a 1/2 mile a day for my youngest and a mile or so for my eldest). However, they are fat. Fat enough the doctor's give us the evil eye when we take them in for check ups (and they should).
What are your thoughts about starting children on MFP?
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Replies
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No. www.sparkteens.com I don't know your children's ages, but that site would be more age appropriate.0
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MFP is designed for 18+. There is sparkteen.com that is for 13-18. I am thinking of showing that to my daughter (actually 12 1/2 yr old). That might work better for your kids.0
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some of the things i see on this site.. i would NEVER allow kids to come here.. i think sparks would be better.. good luck..0
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How old are your kids?
If they are 8 then I think it's a waste. They are kids and you have to lead by example.
My son is 14, not super active. But I've started to get on to him about his bowls of chips and tons of nutella.
The other day we were shopping and a super obese person walked by. She was definately unhealthy. Her hair was stringy and her skin was greasy. I told my son "you know...I never want you to worry about your weight, but I want you to be concerned about your health. THAT is unhealthy."
My son was thick, but not fat, from about 9-12. Now he's getting taller and thinning out.
Also, I would just say to be careful since they are girls. Sadly we can start to become obsessed early. don't make it about losing weight, make it about healthy choices.
And there are foods that I love as Cheats. But the better I eat mostly, the less I want those things. I don't like to call them cheats, I call them "treats!"0 -
I think it is wonderful that you want to help your children develop a healthy lifestyle and that you are leading by example. Dance and the Run Club are both great activities. I don't know what to say about having them be on MFP or another online service, although I think MFP discourages children from signing up. Maybe I would advise letting them watch you progress and you could share with them the wisdom you get from MFP without them being directly connected. Emphasize how you feel better and are pleased with your progress, and play and make healthy meals with them to show them the rewards of your healthy choices. I wish your family the best and am proud of you for taking action.0
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How old? If 14 plus, not prone to disorders and reasonably responsible, I see no problem with it. Given this place is moderated with a massive hammer and anything remotely adult disappears within seconds the whole "only suitable for 18+" idea is ludicrous.
I'd rather kids were here, learning about nutrition and getting advice from people who knew stuff than spending their nights on thinspo tumblrs.0 -
How old? If 14 plus, not prone to disorders and reasonably responsible, I see no problem with it. Given this place is moderated with a massive hammer and anything remotely adult disappears within seconds the whole "only suitable for 18+" idea is ludicrous.
I'd rather kids were here, learning about nutrition and getting advice from people who knew stuff than spending their nights on thinspo tumblrs.
The reason it is 18 plus is because it is programmed for an adults body needs not a child's.0 -
Nope. MFP is for adults, not children. Depending on their age, I suggest a professional or sparkteens.com.0
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This site is not for kids, there is a reply that had a site for children...
Given that, my son is in the school running club and they do "3" miles every Thursday (I have run with them--it is actually closer to 4 miles). 1/2 - 1 mile isn't much. Maybe you can talk to the coach about increasing that. You can help by good food choices, as well as supporting the running but going with them on days they don't run in the club. Sign them up for 5K races--they are fun. Go with them. Make exercise the family time together, not (just) meals.0 -
I don't know how old your children are, but I would prefer to lead by example than sign them up to any calorie-counting website. If they are under 18, they are still growing, and it's far too young to be worrying about calorie amounts and exercise burns.
Teach them what a balanced diet is and make them aware of healthy foods, encourage them in an exercise they enjoy, and you've got something sustainable there. Teaching children to count calories screams 'eating disorder waiting to happen' to me.0 -
Ultimately, if there isn't junk in the house , and they are staying active , you would think they would start to lose weight naturally. I agree that you have to approach this carefully, because girls can become obsessed with their weight quite young.
I don't think mfp is the way to go if they are under 18 . Also , apart from regular exercise and monitoring their food intake, i'd be hesitant to push them too much until they are almost done puberty...they still have a few inches to grow , and they may begin to thin out naturally. Ultimately if you, the parents, stop buying ANY junk food for the house,(and they are therefore fueling their body with healthy food) and they are active regularly, you would think the weight would start to drop off.0 -
I don't know how old your children are, but I would prefer to lead by example than sign them up to any calorie-counting website. If they are under 18, they are still growing, and it's far too young to be worrying about calorie amounts and exercise burns.
Teach them what a balanced diet is and make them aware of healthy foods, encourage them in an exercise they enjoy, and you've got something sustainable there. Teaching children to count calories screams 'eating disorder waiting to happen' to me.
This, if they see mom and dad eating healthier and being more active, they will probably join in. Have them help out with cooking at home and do active things together as a family.0 -
My son could stand to lose some weight. He is almost 14 so I can't be in total charge of what he eats and he spends a lot if time at school. I would never put him on here to count calories. I am mentally counting some of his meals cause its coming second nature to count. I am starting to measure and weigh some of his portions to keep them the right size. He can out eat me but being I weigh 25 lbs more than him I am not sure he should. You can help your children make healthier food choices and be aware of calories without getting them counting. If your children are overweight then your most likely giving them too much food. The younger they are the easier it should be able to fix. Even though my son is bigger than what he should be I know we are doing right with our choices based on that he isn't out weighing me like I have seen some other children doing.0
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It's against the TOS, so no.0
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I think it is wonderful that you want to help your children develop a healthy lifestyle and that you are leading by example. Dance and the Run Club are both great activities. I don't know what to say about having them be on MFP or another online service, although I think MFP discourages children from signing up. Maybe I would advise letting them watch you progress and you could share with them the wisdom you get from MFP without them being directly connected. Emphasize how you feel better and are pleased with your progress, and play and make healthy meals with them to show them the rewards of your healthy choices. I wish your family the best and am proud of you for taking action.
Is it really that wonderful? Or is it his job as a parent?0 -
A)things dont disappear within seconds...seriously DYEF?How old? If 14 plus, not prone to disorders and reasonably responsible, I see no problem with it. Given this place is moderated with a massive hammer and anything remotely adult disappears within seconds the whole "only suitable for 18+" idea is ludicrous.
I'd rather kids were here, learning about nutrition and getting advice from people who knew stuff than spending their nights on thinspo tumblrs.
given the number of creeps here I would worry about them being approached by PM.
C) their needs are different than that of an adult0 -
How old? If 14 plus, not prone to disorders and reasonably responsible, I see no problem with it. Given this place is moderated with a massive hammer and anything remotely adult disappears within seconds the whole "only suitable for 18+" idea is ludicrous.
I'd rather kids were here, learning about nutrition and getting advice from people who knew stuff than spending their nights on thinspo tumblrs.
Define disorders please.
Because I developed my issues with food at 14 (restriction, diet pills). You can be prone to develop at eating disorder at any age.
I totally agree with leading by example.
If my mother had done that instead of poking fun at my weight and inability to do a push up/ssit up, I might have gone a different route than I did.
They quite possibly aren't done growing so as thry grow in height, they could slim out as well....0 -
Just on the forums side, I say no. Even though, as a previous poster said, mods keep a pretty heavy hammer and most "adult" stuff is tossed quickly, I wouldn't recommend anyone under 18 here. Some people have received pretty adult-themed PMs here, and that just opens up a whole can of worms, both for the minor receiving it and the person sending it if the minor lied and said they were 18.
Regarding calorie counting, I'd recommend sparkteens for your kid(s), if anything. If they're active and eating relatively good foods at home, not munching on snacks constantly, they should lean out naturally and not need to worry about it right now. You don't want them to obsess too much at a young age, but helping them learn basic nutrition wouldn't be a terrible idea.0 -
Sparkteens.0
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I think putting your child on a site nutritionally designed for adults, where they can be creeped on by who the f knows (perverts, proana/mias) is one of the worst parenting ideas ever.0
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These threads really annoy me actually.
Calorie counting is not a kid's job. Being a kid is a kid's job. It is the parents job to feed them, and to make sure their nutritional needs are met, along with ensuring they get exercise.
If kids are eating a reasonable amount of halfway decent food, and are reasonably active, then they probably won't be fat. Run club and dance club are great, but they are obviously not enough.
If you really seriously are considering completely abdicating your responsibility and forcing your children to be exposed to the world of eating disorders and distorted body image, then you shouldn't be allowed to have children. In my opinion, you shouldn't be allowed a dog.
Apologies if this comes across as harsh, but just do a forum search and see how many idiots have started threads about this. And think about it. Really hard.0 -
Given this place is moderated with a massive hammer and anything remotely adult disappears within seconds .
You're joking, right? There's still a thread going from last night about some guy who never wants to poo again and wants his intestines to miraculously absorb all his waste.0 -
My son could stand to lose some weight. He is almost 14 so I can't be in total charge of what he eats and he spends a lot if time at school. I would never put him on here to count calories. I am mentally counting some of his meals cause its coming second nature to count. I am starting to measure and weigh some of his portions to keep them the right size. He can out eat me but being I weigh 25 lbs more than him I am not sure he should. You can help your children make healthier food choices and be aware of calories without getting them counting. If your children are overweight then your most likely giving them too much food. The younger they are the easier it should be able to fix. Even though my son is bigger than what he should be I know we are doing right with our choices based on that he isn't out weighing me like I have seen some other children doing.
You mention that your son is out eating you, even though he weighs less, as a concern. I think it's really important to remember that he is still growing--in fact a boy that age typically does the majority of growing and muscle building. So, it's healthy for him to out eat you (since i'm pretty sure you don't want to be growing!). I think it's key to make sure that kids that age are eating healthy whole foods (not too much refined carbs and junk), but don't restrict how much healthy food they eat. Understanding that you can't always control his eating, you can at least make sure that he's eating healthy whole foods at home. Just my two cents! :-)0 -
How old? If 14 plus, not prone to disorders and reasonably responsible, I see no problem with it. Given this place is moderated with a massive hammer and anything remotely adult disappears within seconds the whole "only suitable for 18+" idea is ludicrous.
I'd rather kids were here, learning about nutrition and getting advice from people who knew stuff than spending their nights on thinspo tumblrs.
Things do NOT get taken down all that quickly. There are some things that stick around for HOURS despite the number of people that report it. I cannot speak as a parent, but as someone who would like them someday, I would rather my children use a website that is geared toward their own needs versus that of an adult. This is NOT that website.
Also, it's against the terms of service. You must be 18+.0 -
My two kids are fighting the same weight fight that I am. My wife and I are trying to teach them how to eat right but I fear they have the mental block about food I do. I have to keep a journal to really put a finger on my food intake and not cheat. I think my eldest is mature enough to see this and she wants to lose weight. She sees what I am doing and the changes that are happening. She is also VERY goal oriented. My youngest is not near as mature and a free spirit, but she sees her older sister as a role model.
They both dance two to three times a week, plus in are the "Run Club" at school (which equate to about a 1/2 mile a day for my youngest and a mile or so for my eldest). However, they are fat. Fat enough the doctor's give us the evil eye when we take them in for check ups (and they should).
What are your thoughts about starting children on MFP?
No....no no no no no. Don't start them with an unhealthy relationship with food already please. How about getting them involved in some other sports......active family activities (hikes etc).......Prepare good food at home if you are really worried about it but don't try to monitor everything they eat. What are your meals like at home? Do you have soda/juice/sugary drinks in the house?0 -
sparkteens.com would be a good website for the oldest one, I think the youngest one probably should have their internet limited and monitored by you. it would be better for you as a family to eat healthy together, exercise together, and learn what a healthy lifestyle is TOGETHER. its great they are being active in dance and the run club, keep encouraging them to be active and healthy.0
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Please do not use anything like MFP to attempt to calculate your kids' calorie needs
the calculator on here, and ones on other sites, are for adults.... they don't take into account the additional calories needed for growth. Do you know how many extra calories they need for growing? I'm pretty sure no-one here does.... too few calories in childhood stunts a child's growth. this is the reason why under 18s are not allowed on this site.
don't put your child on a calorie counting diet unless it's under the supervision of a paediatrician or paediatric dietitian.
for kids the best approach is to encourage them to be more active and eat healthy. Even paediatricians don't advise having kids lose weight, they advise having kids grow into their current weight. There may be exceptions, but only a paediatrician can say in what circumstances those exceptions apply. It is very important to get your kids into good habits, but it's also vital that their physical and mental health is safeguarded in the process. And a lot of parents accidentally project their own food issues onto their kids. There are a LOT of potential pitfalls in this, really it's best to get advice from a paediatrician if you're going to do anything more than encourage your kids to be active and encourage them to eat health, nutritionally balanced meals.0 -
I think if they're younger than 13-14ish, you shouldn't have them monitoring their calories. Focus on things like eliminating sweets and soda, etc. You said your older daughter is goal oriented, so what about a reward system for eliminating sugar, increasing vegetables and exercising? I would imagine something like that could work with the younger daughter too. I think you have to be super careful with something like that to make sure that it doesn't backfire into a punishment system if they DONT comply though. I remember starting to be calorie conscious at about 13-14 and I do think it's a good idea to start making your children aware at that age. Heaven knows our society has a way of tricking you into eating more calories than you know, so it's good to teach them to be aware about it. It kind of goes hand in hand with managing money, so think of it that way. Most parents start teaching their kids about managing money in their early teens and I think managing calories at that age is appropriate as well.
If they're old enough, why not start the old fashioned way and have them use a note pad and a calorie booklet. I would probably not encourage them to stay under a set caloric goal, but rather just learn to keep track. Keeping track is a VERY good habit to start and will usualy result in self correction of overeating on it's own. Once they're old enough, if still needed, then you can start to work with them on what their caloric goals should be0 -
One of the OP's previous threads say the girls are 5 and 9. Way too young to be calorie counting. OP, their weights will likely come down naturally if both parents continue to model healthy eating and exercise behaviors.0
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Also....How long do they dance for and what forms? What do they do when they come home? i.e. what are they doing when they are not at school or dance?0
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