Getting your kids to start exercizing

Good post.

Also, get them into spelling and grammar classes. Helps with resumes.

This is not my area of expertise, but if I could just start by offering an observation. It sounds as though you are setting up exercise to be viewed as a necessary evil, rather than a fun activity. I say this because you encouraged your kids to do the video with you with the promise of a 'fun' reward at the end.

Don't get me wrong, I think you trying to get them involved in your activities, spending time with them and encouraging exercise are all awesome, I just don;t think you have chosen the right forum for them.

In my view, you would be better off using your time with them to go outside and play outside (when the weather permits of course). Find out what they would like to do, and shape that into your activity, ie going for a bike ride with them, playing soccer or frizbee etc.

Just remember that kids are naturally more active, and while we want to set good habits for them early on we need to remind ourselves that (usually) at this age thinhs like 'working out' and losing weight are not even on their radar.

Personally I do exercises with my little girl, she is only 4. She started expressing interest in what I did when I disappeared to the gym each morning, so I asked if she'd like me to show her. I now make it fun by doing pushups with her on my back, or do starjumps or other exercises with her. When she stops being interested I'm not going to push it though. Setting a positive example yourself and simply allowing them to see what you do will have more impact than you might realise!

Great post!

I've had this covered since they were walking.

I exercise all 5 of my boys - 6 days each week. No fat kids in our home, no junk food and no laying around playing computer games. As for suggestions, my boys know nothing is negotiable with me. They do it unless pain is something they enjoy - end of story.

I can control my little part of the world, and other parents must find their own way.

Good luck.

This is not my area of expertise, but if I could just start by offering an observation. It sounds as though you are setting up exercise to be viewed as a necessary evil, rather than a fun activity. I say this because you encouraged your kids to do the video with you with the promise of a 'fun' reward at the end.

Don't get me wrong, I think you trying to get them involved in your activities, spending time with them and encouraging exercise are all awesome, I just don;t think you have chosen the right forum for them.

In my view, you would be better off using your time with them to go outside and play outside (when the weather permits of course). Find out what they would like to do, and shape that into your activity, ie going for a bike ride with them, playing soccer or frizbee etc.

Just remember that kids are naturally more active, and while we want to set good habits for them early on we need to remind ourselves that (usually) at this age thinhs like 'working out' and losing weight are not even on their radar.

Personally I do exercises with my little girl, she is only 4. She started expressing interest in what I did when I disappeared to the gym each morning, so I asked if she'd like me to show her. I now make it fun by doing pushups with her on my back, or do starjumps or other exercises with her. When she stops being interested I'm not going to push it though. Setting a positive example yourself and simply allowing them to see what you do will have more impact than you might realise!

I absolutely LOVE the way you are getting your daughter involved with your work outs! You give some awesome advice here

My neice seems to enjoy the DVD from Shaun T that I ordered her. It's dance moves and such... you can get it from my site if you want that information message me

I have 5 children: ages 18, 13, 11, 7, and 5. All of the children have been exposed to various types of exercise their entire lives. We would take family biking trips (little boys in the trailer and older children "duck up"). We also would go swimming together, take walks in the woods, go for short runs, etc. Now in the winter, we all enjoy dancing in the kitchen together as we cook. They also enjoy doing push-ups, squats, and whatever else I am doing (well.... the younger kids do. The older children participate in school sports).

I think that making exercise/activity part of an every day event instead of a chore is a great way to approach this. Children love to go exploring in the woods. It's family time and activity rolled into one. We also throw a football in the yard or kick a soccer ball around. Make exercise/activity part of every day life and not a chore.

Oh and as I am working out, they often join in the fun. We laugh at zumba moves (even while sweat is dripping down my face, the children follow along). And they love my work-outs. I think that I have to be an example to them as well. My exercises may be for health and weight loss, but it is my goal to make them see that I enjoy them, even when I grunt, groan, sweat, or cry -- I always finish with a smile, "wow that was hard work, but I feel great!."

Find some physical activities they might actually enjoy. Get your daughter into dance or soccer, your son into basketball or martial arts. Have them do something that is active without it feeling like forced exercise. My kids are still toddlers so getting they're constantly active, but as they get older they'll always be in some sort of sport. We want them to stay active but we don't want them to think they have to go to a gym (or use a workout video) to stay in good health.

My sonn is 15 and he will be joining the gym with me in January. He might not like it but it will be good for him. I know he will thank me later. Unfortunately video games have taken over our house but not anymore . Good for you!

I think its great you want to get your kids into fitness. I can understand why your 11 yr old thought doing a Leslie Sansone video was 'stupid'. I think it would be better to make it fun and not a chore so they learn to make it a healthy lifelong habit. At your kids ages they should be involved in sports or outdoor activities like bike riding, running around playing tag, hide-and-seek, manhunt, football, soccer...etc with your or their friends.

While video workouts and games like the Wii have their place, I think they are a very slippery slope to kids getting it in their head that the outdoors is unsafe or too much work...which is a slippery slope to becoming completely inactive. I've also personally found that I have a VERY difficult time sticking to video workouts for more than a month or two before I quit out of sheer boredom, regardless of how many different videos I am rotating.

There's a reason that treadmills are often referred to as closet extensions--a lot of people who have them end up eventually hanging clothing off of them. Again, there's a high risk of boredom with indoor exercise.

Can you get them on bikes? That's our favorite family activity. We even purchased a nice road tandem with a telescopic rear seatpost so that our DS (10) could do rides with us. By early Summer he had already completed a 53 mile ride with us and still had energy to spare at the end. Not once on the back of the bike has he complained of boredom. He also is expressing interest in training for his first 5k race. Your kids are at a great age to do that. And if you aren't a runner, then it's something you could train to do with them. Even if you all walked the entire distance it would be great exercise with minimal investment in equipment.

If you live in an area with snow (like we would have here, most years...we're gonna have a brown Christmas, for a change), consider snowshoes. Basic ones can be relatively inexpensive and used ones are not hard to find, either.

Kids really need to be outdoors at least some, every day. Kids who get outdoors learn to appreciate nature and want to protect it. And vitamin D is important for growing bones, too.

I think the best for that age group is to start any group sport. Biking/ running/ swimming are all great options, but their availability is depend on the weather. I have a 3 yr old, and we are starting a program sport-ball from January. They introduce small kids to various ball sports: baseball, soccer, basketball etc. The purpose of the program is to generate interest , and find out what the child may like to play later. Here hockey is the mayor sport for boys, but I rather want to experiment and see what my child may develop interest in.
Since the OP kids are bigger, I am sure they already express their interest in something. I think the best is sign up for the local community leave, and play with other children regularly. It is much more fun for them, then working out by a exercise DVD.

I have a 10 year old brother, who is always on the wii with me! Either were both on just dance, or zumba, wii fit, etc etc! Its soo funnny! With him only been 10 he doesnt need to loose weight, infact hes a little under weight for his age and height, sooo he has to be be constantly fed!! Lol!