Fitbits for children?!?

[manicinsomniac]

Has anyone else noticed this suddenly become a thing?

I've had two children in two separate classes wearing them in school today (both Y6 children, age 10). They might have had them for ages but I'm not very observant. When I asked them if they were fitbits they had on, other children started saying they either have them at home or want them.

I might be being paranoid due to personal and family experiences with eating disorders but I think they're really inappropriate for children to have. I haven't said anything to the children obviously, because it's up to their parents and nothing to do with me. But instinctively, I don't like the idea.

AIBU?

I think they're a good idea and can encourage children to be more active. I'd turn off the calories burnt on the screen though. No need for them to know that.

Honestly, Biffle - statement B makes me more uneasy than statement A. I don't think either of them would particularly contribute more to increasing obesity - I suppose B - but, in a time before the obesity crisis (thinking 70s/80s kids), young children didn't know about calories and didn't have fitbits.

I stated in my OP that I might be being paranoid due to personal and family experiences with eating disorders so yes, I have a back story. I developed anorexia at 15 but was so aware of body size before then. Every childhood 'educational' experience of being weighed at school for maths, keeping a food diary for science, bleep test scores etc etc is ingrained in my head as another occasion where I had to worry about being the smallest and fittest. My daughter (age 13) is underweight and terrified of 'junk' food/carbohydrates/processed food or whatever her particular fear of the week might be. She doesn't have an anorexia diagnosis yet but I'm really scared for her.

And also I just don't see this obesity crisis in children around me. I see children (many very, very thin ones) who are intensely competitive with sport and asking questions by the age of 7 or 8 about what foods they should be eating and how much. I, personally, just don't think that those are questions that should be on children's minds. Yes, I know a lot of children need to lose weight. But you can reduce a child's diet and/or make it healthier without them either being aware of it at all or by just talking about being 'healthy together'. It frightens me when year 5 and 6 children tell me how many calories they are aiming to eat every day. To me that's an adolescent plus conversation and it doesn't sit comfortably with me.

My OP also says this: I haven't said anything to the children obviously, because it's up to their parents and nothing to do with me and clearly asks if IABU not states that I am reasonable. So I'm not quite sure what the attack on judgemental teachers is about in your last line.

To be honest reading your last post OP I would say that attitudes like yours are much more damaging than children being aware of how food fuels our bodies and the benefits of moving more.
I think that your mental health issues surrounding your own eating disorder and insecurities as a teenager are clouding your judgement.
When should children know about calories, how food affects our bodies and how it is processed, i.e. used as fuel, laying down fat reserves etc and how we balance that with exercise to maintain good health?

DD2 is out a friend house so can't check if they run it in the rain but I think the time of day varies. Some of the teachers use it if the class are getting restless and others when they can tell the kids just need a break. All the teachers seem to agree that it's really good not just from a healthy body point of view but also healthy mind, apparently the kids concentration has greatly improved since it was introduced. My DD and her friends now challenge each other to do more laps in the time. So she's doing more than a mile!

rainbow - maybe but I'm not convinced. After all, I don't remember our generation(s) knowing about calories etc until adolescence at least but there was much less of an obesity crisis. Food as fuel - yes, sure. Foods to eat more of and foods to eat less of - ok. Calories, numbers and good and bad - not so okay with me. But yes, I'm not necessarily correct on that at all, you could well be. I don't know when the 'right' age would be.

I think the daily mile is a great idea, btw. That's totally different in my mind. It is seen as exercise for fun, for concentration, for learning, for being healthy etc. It isn't counting steps and trying to reach a target.

My DS (8) loves to wear my step tracker, he also likes us to use runtastic on my phone when we go for a walk so he can see how far he's walked, and how fast. He even wore my gps running watch when he did his sports relief mile, and was very proud of setting it as he crossed the line, like all the serious runners. If it motivates his little butt to get off Minecraft and move, then I'm all for it. Don't think I'd trust him not to lose one of his own yet though

I have a FitBit but DS (13) doesn't. He has never asked for one but LOVES to know "how many steps" if we go for a walk etc and how many miles that makes.
He thinks he is great for walking 2 miles this morning round the nature reserve. And it got him off Minecraft plus we had a good chat.

Don't think I will get him his own one though.

I think you are mixing up "information" and "judgemental attitudes" which are separate issues. I absolutely agree judgemental or negative attitudes towards food/nutrition/fitness should not be passed onto children, but straightforward information absolutely should be provided to them. I think this should provided as matter as fact from as early on as possible, so when DC do encounter judgemental or negative attitudes they can discern this for themselves.

I think, with female DC especially, a lot of people see something almost "shameful" in discussing diet/food/weight/fitness but judgement free information (eg what's in what food group, what exercise does to your body etc) actually gives DC the tools to make sensible choices.

I agree we all bring our own personal issues though, and that's where it gets so difficult doesn't it. Personally I just think information in itself can never be a bad thing as long as it's age appropriate. It should be seen as empowering.

Got married ! Or 5 days later I did

It is seen as exercise for fun, for concentration, for learning, for being healthy etc. It isn't counting steps and trying to reach a target.

I think you're mixing up eating disorders with general fitness. There is nothing wrong with children learning that being active more in a day will make them healthier. It is good for them to understand that running after school is better than sitting playing computer games. If it takes a Fitbit for the boys in my class to be motivated to run around the oval at lunchtime and challenge each other to get the most steps then that is a good thing. It may be more about beating each other than keeping fit at this age, but if it means they are moving more and sitting less, then I can't bring myself to get upset about it.

Young children counting calories, trying to fit in to a particular size clothing, talking obsessively about their weight is a very different matter.

DD2 says yep they do the daily mile in the sun wind and rain!

DH bought me an apple watch recently so DS1 has inherited my Fitbit. He has ASD and dyspraxia and we've spent a great deal of time and energy getting him into sports. My theory (and it could easily be wrong) is that the more physical activity he does, the less time he has to worry/stress and it keeps his anxiety levels low.

He does organised sport often, and we have a dog so we're out walking her every evening. He loves knowing that he hits his 12,000 target every day and loves knowing that he's in control of his own health. I think it's important to set an example from a very young age that whatever sport you do, it is a positive, you just have to find something you enjoy. We've never gone into the calorie side of it, however, and never would. I don't believe in diet, it should be about nutrition. You give them a balanced diet, teach them to enjoy preparing' foods and eat a balanced diet and there shouldn't be a need to calorie count.