How do you get your kids to exercise?

[CBC News]

In an effort to get kids exercising, many parents are enrolling their children in fitness centres or buying child-sized equipment for a workout more gruelling than ballet or Little League but cheaper than hiring a personal trainer.
Last year, 1.3 million children ages six to 11 were members of a health club, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. And as of April, a quarter of IHRSA member clubs surveyed had children's programs. At Action Kids Fitness Center, with two locations in California, children can take a 40 to 45-minute circuit training workout with resistance machines and cardio stations, including stationary bikes that connect to PlayStation 2.
But while experts agree that any fitness is better than nothing, they aren't so sure this is the answer.
Children should be outside interacting with other children, not playing video games in a musty basement, said Tony Sparber, who runs New Image Weight Loss Camps.
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How do you get your kids to exercise?


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[darkbeaver]

We promise them that they can throw bricks at the TV after they've carried some fire wood and dug up some potatoes.

 

[snobeach]

We promise them that they can throw bricks at the TV after they've carried some fire wood and dug up some potatoes.

Hadn't thought of that. We usually threw their ipod or cell phone in the backyard and watch 'em scramble. Only kidding.

Turning off the TV and sending everyone outside worked wonders at our house, that and a great phys. ed. program in school.

 

[Kreskin]

I put mine in gymnastics at age 3. It has served her well over the last 4 years.

 

[karrie]

I bought a trampoline. Simple.

Oh and bikes... can't forget bikes.

They keep themselves busy with no need for me to nag.

 

[TenPenny]

I have one daughter who plays soccer / lacrosse / hockey (depends on the season) a couple of times a week, the other does ballet and gymnastics and swimming.

 

[Twig]

My kids are all grown but they still complain that I used turn off the T. V. and send them outside. Pop was a treat for Christmas. They got candy at Halloween and bit at Christmas. Sugar coated cereal never came into our house. I was a mean Mommy.

 

[snobeach]

My kids are all grown but they still complain that I used turn off the T. V. and send them outside. Pop was a treat for Christmas. They got candy at Halloween and bit at Christmas. Sugar coated cereal never came into our house. I was a mean Mommy.

Mom, is that you? :smile:

That's what my folks did and we passed it on to the kid too.

 

[talloola]

My kids were plugged into all kind of sports and dancing all through their childhood, but
that only works if the kids like it. I have a grandaughter who hates any sports, although
she did tap dancing, which is a very good work out, and she loved it, till she was about
16, then quit.
Kids who hate sports, and hate to move much at all, it is very difficult, because it is important for them to excercise regularly, in some way, so then the parent has to make
them do it, and it just has to be that way, a little tough love I guess.
There are other things they have to be 'made' to do, as well, different things for different
kids, parents have to be parents, and make the rules, and enforce them.