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My Almost 6 yr old Son Wants to Participate...

Im_NotPerfect
Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
edited December 2024 in Motivation and Support
Last night while I was riding my stationary bike, I was logging my food and exercise on my computer. My son (almost 6) asked me what I was doing and I told him that this program helps tell me how many calories to eat to be healthy. After I explained what a Calorie was, he wanted me to do it for him. But since he's so young, I couldn't set up an account for him (just for him to see). So, I put his daily food into MY account to see how many calories he ate and burned (as close as possible). I really want to make this a learning experience for him and get him started on the path to health and fitness. He leans towards being on the bigger side anyway and has a very healthy appetitie. I strive to make sure we all eat a healthy diet, but I swear, most days, he actually eats more than I do!!

I'm walking a fine line here and I'm trying to stress the HEALTHY side of it and didn't even mention my losing weight or anything. Any suggestions on how I can include him in on my journey? He's very much a visual/chart based kid, so seeing numbers would be huge for him. Thanks!

Replies

  • kealey1318
    kealey1318 Posts: 290 Member
    My 10 year old son goes on long-distance walks (3-7 miles) with me with no problem... I do try to stress healthy eating, but also I stress lots of exercise. They have 10x more energy than we do anyway. LOL
  • LPCoder
    LPCoder Posts: 404 Member
    Healthy eating is vital for children to learn. Include him the cooking of meals. Show him the choices, and explain why one is better than the other. Have a small white board to write the recipes on and have him check them off as you go. You can praise the food helps you make as you eat it.

    Try logging in at MyFoodPyrimid.com. They have a place for kids to keep track of the food they eat and it includes mineral and vitamin information as well. They are familiar with the Food pyramid from school and it is fairly user friendly.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    I think getting him involved in exercise is awesome. I wouldn't spend too much time teaching him about calories at all, you don't want him to become obsessive because kids that age are kinda obsessive, think of how many times they'll watch the same exact cartoon. Anyhow, my son is also almost 6 and we talk about the difference between healthy, everday foods and other foods that are just for treats and occasions. He now chooses healthy foods, like Kashi cereal over things like Fruit Loops because he just knows it is important.
  • Im_NotPerfect
    Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
    Try logging in at MyFoodPyrimid.com. They have a place for kids to keep track of the food they eat and it includes mineral and vitamin information as well. They are familiar with the Food pyramid from school and it is fairly user friendly.

    Good to know! Thank you! This is just the kind of thing I was looking for!
  • LPCoder
    LPCoder Posts: 404 Member
    Sorry, Wrong Place,

    Here is the right place; http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/planner/
  • jenniebean1680
    jenniebean1680 Posts: 350 Member
    I would maybe steer him away from analyzing food, other than maybe making him a chart w/ fruit and veggie stickers for each day, so if he eats his recommended amounts, he gets to put the stickers up? Something like that?

    I'd lean more towards helping him be more active, and make a chart for that, with drawings of what he did each day?

    You're right about the fine line here. Very very fine. But I think if you go about it the right way, it could be good!
  • LPCoder
    LPCoder Posts: 404 Member
    Here is another great place specifically geared for 6 and up: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/children-over-five.html
  • TKHappy
    TKHappy Posts: 659 Member
    My nine year old jumped on the eliptical with me the other day, and now when he wakes up in the a.m. he says "play music", grabs his shoes and points to the eliptical (He is low functioning autistic, at a 3yr old level...soo its great also in terms of communicating what he wants!). He also will hop in when I'm doing things like lunges and start counting and loves joining me for Yoga. I also caught him flexing in the mirror (yea, I do that..LOL). My 10yr old daughter also likes to do the eliptical and has herself a pair of 3lb weights.

    I think it great when the kids want to get involved!! Means your setting a good example.
  • Im_NotPerfect
    Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
    Both he and his 3 year old sister want to try the bike, but she's definately too small for it, and he's RIGHT on the edge with the seat moved all the way forward. We practically have to DRAG him out for walks, but once he's out and about, he's fine. I just REALLY want to make sure this is a learning experience for him and don't disregard it because I don't have the tools. He really likes things that are on the computer, so I might have to try to make something for us to look at together.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    There are actually some really fun kids workout videos on You Tube as well, probably stuff your 3 year old could also do.
  • Im_NotPerfect
    Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
    I'll have to look those up. For Christmas Santa brought them a Wii Nick Kids Fit game. Has Diego, Dora, etc doing exercises in a fun way. My 3 year old like it, but my 6 year old would rather play his harry potter game! LOL May be time to break that baby out again! :)
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    To me, I would stop discussing anything about tracking calories, etc and focus on healthy food and exercise. I struggle with the same with my kids. We always talk about being healthy rather than thin and I try not to talk about tracking calories and weight loss. If your son wants something visual so he can participate, make a chart of fruits/vegetables and have him track all the fruits/veggies he eats everyday so he can see that he's eating nutritiously.
  • ladykate7
    ladykate7 Posts: 206 Member
    My 5 year-old nephew loves doing the Wii Fit and Wii Active games. They are like short videogame board games, but are moving around and doing stuff instead of just sitting there with a game thats about smashing things for coins. A good option when the weather is too cold or hot for being outside. My brother said he's noticablly calmer after doing the yoga one. Great for unwinding for bedtime.
  • sam363
    sam363 Posts: 204 Member
    I love that he is interested!!! I include my girls in my activites but don't force it. They love to dance and love to race/run outside. We make a game out of our walks and my 5 year old will run a mile to the park and back with joy!

    I might not have them track calories at such a young age only because of a counting and that their world's are very black and white. I do think it's a fantastic idea to track food according to the food pyramid! and explaining why one thing is healthier than the otehr. Our job as parents is to teach our kids and good nutrition is no exception. If your son already has hot lunch at school, he makes his own choices about what he puts in his body. Talk about portion sizes and if you eat x and are still hungry, you should eat x to fill you up and give you balance. Maybe show him a candy bar and a bowl of fruit explain the calorie difference and then have him experiement. If he eats the candy bar, is he satisfied? does he want more? then do the same with the fruit. And of course explain the benefits of the healthier choice. Kids love science, charts and experiments! Get creative!
  • Im_NotPerfect
    Im_NotPerfect Posts: 2,181 Member
    We make games out of our walks too. They take turns deciding which way to walk whenever we get to a corner. And then we tend to play Tag with each other. So our walks usually turn into Runs within about 5 minutes.

    No, I'm not making him count calories or anything like that. Not at all. I just don't want to dismiss his interest and want to make sure I turn it into a learning experience for him. It stinks that he's too short (which is relative...at almost 6, he's still over 4' tall!) for my recumbent bike, otherwise I'd let him on there as long as he wanted! LOL
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