Q: What advice do you have for parents who are considering a personal trainer for their
children?
A: For the parents who are considering a personal trainer for their child you may find the
following quotes to be similar to your exact thoughts:
1.) “My child doesn’t like organized sports or hates the thought of exercise” – Playing
organized sports, attending classes and/or other structured activities does not have to be the
ONLY method of physical activity. In fact, less structured activities can be a great start for kids
who dislike the organized approach. Your child needs a trainer who can create sessions around
fun activities that aren’t typical gym routines and should include input from your child. In other
words, the trainer should be helping your child find activities he or she enjoys and can do on
their own. Lastly, these activities should be creative, imaginative, and engaging. There’s a great
saying about life: “Find what you love to do and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This same
concept applies to kids and exercise. If they find something they love to do, they they won’t think
of it as exercise.
2.) “My child is self-conscious playing sports or trying new activities” – A child who is a
reluctant athlete might feel extra nervous when a coach barks out orders or the focus is on
winning. This can be powerfully de-motivating. However, all of this can be overlooked because
society tells us our children must learn to play with others and develop certain skills in a timely
fashion. What if your child doesn’t fit this cookie-cutter lifestyle? Do we want to discourage them
even more? Instead, shouldn’t we be trying to optimally motivate kids through purposeful
direction? I have found that kids who are self-conscious, do not enjoy being singled out, or don’t
like to try new activities, respond well to personal communication. By directing questions,
suggestions, and tasks to the child privately, rather than publicly, we can make them feel safe
and not “on display.” Some kids may be motivated by competitive play, but what about the kids
who are not? Those kids need a trainer who understands how to create a safe, fun, and
engaging environment, and, within a reasonable amount of time, understands how to gradually
introduce competitive activities.
3.) “My child has some health issues and I prefer supervised exercise sessions” – First
and foremost, you should consult your child’s physician, especially if there are health concerns,
before beginning an exercise or sports routine. That being said, there are infinite benefits to
physical activity (see the link above for a list of benefits) under the supervision of a trained
fitness professional. Parents have a tendency to overestimate their child’s level of fitness and
physical activity. A youth fitness specialist can help asses your child’s level of fitness. Another
saying: “slow and steady wins the race.” There is nothing wrong with starting slow and
progressively increasing levels of exercise. The most important aspect of physical activity, when
it comes to children, is injury prevention. You need a youth fitness trainer who is adaptive and
understands how to accommodate health issues while, at the same time, implements core
aspects of building overall strength and endurance.
4.) “My child is self-conscious about their body image” – Today, appearance means
everything, or at least that’s the message that’s constantly broadcast by the media. It’s more
and more common for kids to be interested in appearances – their own as well as others. Kids
are more aware of how they look because of social media, magazines, etc. They’re being
subjected to unrealistic body images. Body image affects more than just kid’s outward
appearances; it affects their feelings as well. Having a healthy body means having both physical
and mental balance. It means accepting and appreciating ourselves. Developing a healthy body
image happens over time, but it’s a know fact that physical activity can speed up this process.
Physical activity not only shapes the body, but it also molds the mind. Being active can boost
self-esteem and confidence. In addition, physical activity prompts the release of endorphins,
which typically make people feel good about themselves. As a youth fitness specialist, I prepare
kids for the physical and mental challenges they face on a daily basis. For example, being
criticized or teased because of their physical appearance can be extremely hurtful. I teach kids
how to see themselves (and others) beyond just physical appearance. I use exercise as a
platform to help build strong core values and teach life lessons. Overall, being different is what
makes us all unique. As you know, if we were all the same, life would be boring.
By An Energetic Juniors Youth Fitness Specialist
Energetic Juniors specializes in personal training for kids (in fact, that’s all we do!) If you’re looking for a trainer to work with your child, take a look at the full range of personal training sessions we provide and contact us at 212-879-1566 for more information.