active kids healthy kids

by Nan Burgess-Whitman

I witnessed a”fitness miracle” recently that many parents might appreciate.

Here’s my story. I have an eight–year-old daughter. She’s a lovely, social girl, but she has never shown much enthusiasm for physical exertion lasting longer than 15 minutes. And, despite my attempts to expose her to soccer, dancing, tennis, and almost every other physical activity, she was a reluctant participant. Mackenzie, like many other kids, prefers the Disney channel and her Game Boy over a hike at Cobbs Hill Park on a nice sunny day.

But, as kids will do, she took me by surprise. I took her to Fit4Kids in Henrietta for a trial class called Kid Power. She emerged red-faced, sweating, and completely pumped up after an hour of hurdles, races, climbing, and jumping “exercise.” At her own insistence, she’s signed up for the next few months. As for me, I am thrilled she’s found a fun and healthy activity to look forward to, particularly during the winter months.

“There are kids who don’t like the ’team’ thing, and want to play the sport just for the fun of it, but there really isn’t anyone who provides that”, says Scott Diehl, director of the Fit4Kids program and instructor of my daughter’s twice-weekly class. Fun, engaging exercise is not the only benefit. Scott says his best moments come when the kids accomplish something they couldn’t do before and their confidence soars.

The key is to make exercise fun and kid-focused, not a “have to,” serious activity. Scott’s philosophy extends to integrating the parent as a positive role model for their sons and daughters: “It absolutely must involve the parents,” says Scott. He spends quite a bit of time talking to parents, offering nutritional planning and ongoing guidance.

How parents can help encourage kids to exercise

For most adults, exercise means a treadmill at the gym. For kids, it’s playing -- whether at school during recess, gym, or in their own backyard. You hold the key to teaching your child a lifestyle of fitness. How can you help?

1) Encourage free play. Free play can be very important for a child who doesn’t play a team sport. What’s free play? It’s the activity kids get when they’re left to their own devices, like shooting hoops, riding bikes, playing whiffleball, tag, jumping rope, or dancing.

2) Don’t force your child to participate in sports that he or she doesn’t like. Nothing will turn a child off more to exercise than something they dread, and failure is nearly guaranteed. Help your child participate in a variety of activities right for their age.

3) Establish a regular schedule for physical activity. And make sure they’re fun activities. Remember, little things count, like challenging your child to a race up the stairs or down the driveway and back before you get into the car for a quick trip.

4) Be a healthy role model. If you embrace healthy habits, your child will learn for life.

ROCHESTER RESOURCE Fit4Kids: fit4kids@rochester.rr.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Nan Burgess-Whitman is a regular contributor to this column. She is a certified personal trainer and aerobics instructor.