In today’s perfect world, social media stars and actors are all going to look fabulous to your children, and sometimes it can lead them to seek out fitness and staying in shape. Of course, kids need to stay active while growing up, but you will also want to make sure your children are exercising and building strength in a positive, healthy way too!
The Basics
Kids may see perfect bodies online and on film and want to mimic the same features. People nowadays are even more obsessed with their features and body image, striving to appear as young, fit, and muscular as possible. But kids may not realize how much goes into strength-training, and building too much muscle at a young age can have some negative consequences.
Getting Started
If your kid is focusing on their weight and exercising a lot, make sure you talk with them and figure out why they want to work out so much. Make sure you are consulting with their doctor or pediatrician on how much exercise they should be getting. And if your kid is a little older and wants to lift weights, be sure to double check with their doctor on a good plan of how much is too much and make sure your tween is sticking to it. Double checking every so often that your kid is enjoying their time exercising and that they aren’t pushing their bodies to be “perfect” is always a good idea as well. Your teen may start out with good intentions and not push themselves too much, but that can always change as time goes by, so it’s good to check in periodically as well.
Work Out Buddies
If you’ve been trying to get back into shape, what better time than with your kids? You can even convert an old bedroom or the basement into a little mini gym for the both of you! Be sure to have age-appropriate weights, and not have anything too large for your kids so they aren’t straining to lift weights. You can do stretches together and work on breathing to ensure your kid is taking their time and using the equipment correctly. You can also do a variety of other exercises besides lifting weights that can also help tone and build muscle, like certain flexes and even yoga!
Katie Kyzivat