To put my four year old on the Cross Trainer?

[FitMumandFitGirl]

Just wondering really. She likes going on there, really seems to enjoy it so if we don't feel like going out then I stick her on there for half an hour to burn off some energy.

For some reason though my MIL has taken real issue with it and had a right go at me telling me to just get out of the house with her rather than do that, we do go out nearly every day but somedays just don't get round to it. Also think it is good to be encouraging regular exercise habits fromthe start!

So AIBU?

Yes, I am afraid you are.

Children do not need to be encouraged from the age of four to do regular exercise.

Take her to the park or let her do a dance/gymnastic class that is suitable for her age.

I think going out the house and running round would be much better, but not sure that it will actually do any harm.

I just think thats a bit odd

I thought a 4 year ld wuld burn off enery with just usual play.

If she likes going on it the fair enugh, but is there any safety issues involved?

yes, it strikes me as a bit odd.

There were days when the kids were little that I didn't go out (just a couple of days a week, or one day a week, nothing major) but I didn't think 'must get my 4 yo to do exercise'.

Don't know about harm, Choufleur, but wouldn't a cross trainer put too much emphasis on particular muscle groups?

I don't actually see how it could work, tbh. My DS is 6yo and could not reach the pedals and handlebars of my XT.

I'd do this if I had one. My children need to be run like dogs and the weather is foul.

Ds used to do it so yanbu unless its her only activity which I highly doubt

YABU !!!!

a cross trainer ffs ! what kind of a mother are you ?....

....get her a treadmill instead !

LMAO, my 2yr old likes to go on my cross trainer, but he stands on one step and i make it go up and down with the other!

It seems the cross trainer has become more of a small at home fairground ride than an actual exercise machine, ho hum!

YANBU to let her have a go, as fun etc, but i wouldn't let her use it as a serious form of exercise!

YANBU, if she likes it, no harm done!
If your MIL thought that you were making her exercise though I can understand her anger.

A bit lazy to not take her out and get "real" exercise?

lmfao Seven thats exactly my thought... I literally couldn't click the thread fast enough|!

And a bit dangerous? My neice,(5) went onto her parents treadmill by herself and proceeded to fall and give herself really bad friction burns down her whole body and face, so painful. Dont think exercise equiptment is meant for dc

i think YABU to use it instead of going out for a bit of a play and run, kids need fresh air too. although my ds sometimes asks to go on the treadmill. i let him, but it is never instigated by me, i would far ratehr wrap up and take him out to play.

YABU!

Take the poor child to the park!

Clearly nobody here has a hyperactive child

I could not imagine keeping ds1 OFF a cross trainer for 5 minutes. We could spend four hours a day at the park, but the extra opportunity to thrash about and possibly injure himself would be too good to miss.

I say go for it. As long as she does get taken out, what harm can more exercise do?

I am leary of teaching really young children that they HAVE to exercise, and I think fresh air and play and unsupervised running around is far far better than the sort of repetitive joyless gym work adults do. Running around a playground isn't just about burning calories, it's motor skills and balance and ingenuity.

All of that said, if the weather makes going out impossible (here it gets to over 40C regularly in the summer, and I won't let her out in the middle of the day in that!), I'd rather have some way of burning off the energy than not.

I think YABU if you are doing it because you think your child must get the exercise. If you're doing it because it's fun and it's definitely treated as such, then YANBU, but I do see MIL's point.

No we totally do it for fun and probably for about five minutes tops, although I may have indicated to MIL that it was rather more than that as she seemed so incredibly judgemental . I thought I would be roasted on here given her reaction!

DD's Christmas Present also going to tell her I am getting dd this for christmas!