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Gym-tastic!
Fitness Clubs Are Putting out the Welcome Mat for Kids
By Kelly Burgess
"A child who is well-supervised can even walk on a treadmill or use other fitness equipment," Jacko says. "This doesn't necessarily mean that kids' fitness should be that organized, but when they see Mom or Dad doing something they want to try it and it's good to allow them to do so in a safe, supervised setting. It's also the best example a parent can set of making fitness a priority regardless of age."
Not all gym-based fitness programs for kids are an offshoot of their parent's gym membership. One of the fastest-growing fitness trends is gyms specifically for kids. Bob Bingham, president and CEO of The Little Gym International, Inc. (www.thelittlegym.com), left the fast-paced world of broadcasting more than a decade ago to expand the reach of a program that his children had been involved in since they were tots. There are now more than 160 Little Gym franchises in 14 countries.
Like the offshoot programs in adult gyms, the program is completely noncompetitive and focuses on fun fitness. The difference is that Little Gym franchises adhere to a standard curriculum that focuses on sequential skill building.
"There is nothing random at all about the programwe have in place for children," Bingham says. "There is a very thorough and complete lesson plan for every class in every age group. Furthermore, we expect each class each week to be a magical experience so that the child is having fun while acquiring some very important physical skills."
