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Unstructured Fun
Exercise Equipment for Kids
By Kelly Burgess
When adults think of exercise they often think of an activity that's very structured and sustained, such as taking a brisk walk, going to the gym for an hour or working out on an elliptical machine. With kids, exercise shouldn't necessarily be a sustained activity. They are much better off with many short bursts of activity throughout the day. With this in mind, exercise equipment can be part of an overall program to keep kids fit and healthy year-round.
In the past few years, Dr. Melinda Sothern, a clinical exercise physiologist with the Louisiana State University Health Science Center and the author of Trim Kids: The Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight (Harper Resource, 2001), has changed her opinion of children using exercise equipment.
"Any idea that promotes physical activity for kids is worth exploring," Dr. Sothern says. "I even believe in hand weights for younger kids. However, what I caution parents about is that exercising with equipment should never be imposed upon youngsters. If it becomes too structured, it sets the family up for conflict."
If you have an area set aside where adults walk on a treadmill or use a stationary bike, by all means allow your children to use the machines as well if they want to, with supervision. Sothern does note that the incline on the treadmill should not be used for children because it puts too much stress on their front leg bones. In addition, keep in mind the idea of short bursts of energy. Children shouldn't do a long stretch on a treadmill as an adult would – 10 minutes or so is plenty of time. As for stationary bikes, since they are lower impact, they can be used for longer periods of time, and children often enjoy them.
To make it even more fun, round out the "adult" exercise area with jump ropes, exercise balls, smaller-scale basketball sets with foam balls, baseball mitts, hula hoops and even a small, indoor trampoline. Rather than a formal program, encourage children to just play. Feel free to join in; children will follow their parents' example.
