Kids and Fitness

Hello,

I have a son age 11 and a daughter who is about to turn 13 in July. They both play softball every year and I encourage them to have plenty of outside play time after their school studies are completed. This usually ends up being anywhere from an hour to three hours per week day and practically all day long on the weekends and during the summer months of school break. Since summer is coming up and they both want to start playing basketball this year, I'm considering starting them on some sort of light training scheduel. I was thinking an hour per day, three days per week during the summer. Not to mention the fact that though neither of them are highly overweight, my daughter is a bit chubby and lacks athletic prowess. Though, she's absolutely dying to become better at sports. She really shows a desire and I thought this could help her. Of course, it wouldn't do my son a horrid injustice to have him participate as well. It could help teach them how important it is to live an active lifestyle as an adult as well. 

I have a few questions for you all though. To start, I was going to do an instructional day to teach them the basics. This will include stretching, a general warmup, then go into short distance sprinting (which will help them with softball and running bases), bodyweight squats, jumpingjacks, etc. I think it will help to keep them a fun training log so they can see how they've improved and such. Does this sound like too much for them? Is there anything else I should include at this point? I'm not going to push them too hard, but I do want to continually enforce the fact that keeping in shape is important. Not to mention, it will also help keep them busy during summer. 

Of course, I highly welcome any and all input. 

Thanks!

I just want to comment to say  what an AWESOME mom you are! All too often, parents tend to let their kids be 'babysat' by their video games and devices.  Childhood obesity is higher than it EVER has been.  The average child is now more sedentary than a 35 year old adult! I run a sports fitness program every summer for children ages 6-18 [split into age appropriate groups]. Most of the kids that are enrolled in this program are so freaking LAZY.  I think most of them were given cell phones before they could speak and quite of few of them have their own drivers and bodyguards [due to their parent[s] celebrity status.  They usually come, acting as if it is a punishment. Act as if they are going to die when we make them put their cell phones away and complain about any type of movement. They are quite a trip! But, I can tell you..these kids [the ones that don't drop out and about 1/3 always do] become completely diff individuals by the end of the summer. Not only are their fitness levels greatly improved but their DESIRE to achieve fitness and be active is amazing!!  Basically, our children's 'camp' includes acceleration, agility, quickness, strength, power and nutrition which are inherent to any performance enhancement program.

Very proud of ya!

Original Post by momof2kd:

I have a few questions for you all though. To start, I was going to do an instructional day to teach them the basics. This will include stretching, a general warmup, then go into short distance sprinting (which will help them with softball and running bases), bodyweight squats, jumpingjacks, etc. I think it will help to keep them a fun training log so they can see how they've improved and such. Does this sound like too much for them? Is there anything else I should include at this point? I'm not going to push them too hard, but I do want to continually enforce the fact that keeping in shape is important. Not to mention, it will also help keep them busy during summer. 

I would give them a ball and point them towards a hoop, tell them to come back when it's dark.

  FloggingSully floggingsully

I would give them a ball and point them towards a hoop, tell them to come back when it's dark.

 

 LOL!

Sounds like boot camp.  I'm with floggingsully on this one.

Original Post by trhawley:

Sounds like boot camp.  I'm with floggingsully on this one.

So am I.  Kids aren't going to do anything that isn't fun and engaging. 

You could see if they're interested in athletic camps offered by the Y, or any summer intermural teams.  Playing the sport itself is just as much exercise as breaking down the individual skills - and more fun for the kids.

I thought that what flogging said was funny, but I wanted to say that I think what you are doing is great. I don't think it sounds like bootcamp AT ALL bc your kids are looking forward to it.  The fact that you want to get involved is wonderful.  Yes, kids absolutly should enjoy their childhood, but what's not to enjoy about doing something they both CLEARLY want to do and spending time outdoors?...people forget that kids need structure to develope responsible work ethics, discipline and self-esteem.

It's only 3 days a week and to me it sounds like a great way to bond with them. I would concintrate mostly on the fundementals of the game and focus on incorporating the rules while playing th game 3 days a week rather then an actual "training" regimine.  You have the whole summer for the kids to train and gain more strength before tryouts.

Just make sure you keep it fun and keep them motivated with positive attitude and love.

I also just wanted to say how awesome I think it is that you are getting your kids involved in activities now so that they have a better chance of becomming healthy active adults. Just make sure that whatever they do is something that they enjoy and let them enjoy childhood.

Original Post by floggingsully:

I would give them a ball and point them towards a hoop, tell them to come back when it's dark.

 I agree too. The kiddie training schedule sounds way too much like gym class to me. I was a fanatic about sports as a kid, and I thought P.E. was a boring waste of time. We don't know your kids' personalities, of course, but being on a training schedule like that would have turned me off the sport, because it's the sport that's fun, not the windsprints. I think a game of 21 might be more fun and helpful.

BTW if you're teaching basics of a sport, I hope you know the basics yourself too. I skateboarded $%^&-footed for years because my mom told me that's how you do it, and it took a while to correct.

Sports camps would be great to teach them some workout techniques and at the same time they'd get professional training.

Honestly, I'm pretty much with Sully on this one too.  Give them the ball and, if there isn't a nearby hoop, get them a portable basketball net and let them go at it.  Also, look into whether your town, YMCA, church group, or whatever has any type of summer sports programs.  We have baseball throughout the spring and summer, swimming programs at community pools, summer basketball leagues, etc.  Skateboarding can be quite a bit of exercise as is bike riding (safety equipment is important).

Since your kids are already playing outdoors most of the time, they are probably getting more exercise than you realize and are way ahead of the game compared to a lot of kids.

There's nothing wrong with spending time with them, but keep it short, simple and don't make it a chore. I wouldn't get them to do exercises for more than ten minutes at a time - kids have short attention spans and an hour is way too long. Summer is for having fun and they can get just as much exercise riding bikes, playing with the ball, swimming etc.

I wish all of you would run an intervention with my brother and sister-in-law!!!  Their idea of getting the kids (my niece and nephew) to exercise is to put 'go outside and play for 45 minutes' on their chore list!!!! The kids moan because it means they have to shut off the TV or computer and go outside.

They purchased a swimming pool and a trampoline for the kids, but ya' know what the kids do?  They either lay on a raft and drift, or lay on the trampoline and listen to their MP3 players for 45 minutes!  I don't EVEN want to talk about the types of food they have in the house!  And yes, both youngsters are obese.

I mean seriously!  How sad is that?!!!

I think putting your kids outside and locking the doors or running kiddie bootcamp are both extreme.  The kids seem to have the advantage of already wanting to play the sport.  I think asking the kids how they want to improve would be a better guide for deciding what drills they should do. 

Being left alone with my older brother taught me nothing about basketball, even though he knew how to play.  I remember hating/dreading PE where we did heavy drills and extremely competitive sports.  I really enjoyed co-ed PE where we learned the very basics of a variety of sports.