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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think that a pedometer isn't appropriate for children?

47 replies

Fruitteatime · 03/12/2021 12:38

DD 8 seems to have a lot of children at school who have smart watches with pedometers. I understand that it can be used to encourage physical activity but I'm worried it could be used to obsession and encourages more use of tech when she'd be better off enjoying walks and activities without being worried about if she's doing enough steps. The school have also done a topic on healthy eating this year and I've noticed her and some of her friends are now checking the traffic light system of foods for sugar (as I think it was talked about from a teeth perspective). Again I'm not all that comfortable with this because I think at her age it's still parents responsibility to offer healthy foods rather than for her to become anxious about and could lead into more dangerous behaviours as a teenager if it becomes a habit.

I wondered if anyone knew of any research into this. If anyone's child at this age (around 8) had/has a smart watch/pedometer, did it have a negative or positive influence? DD really wants one (and a games console- but we don't have the money for this) and hasn't asked for much else for Christmas but equally I know as a parent it's down to me to enforce boundaries on things that aren't acceptable to me. I'm wondering if I'm being at all rational in my thinking as I do overthink things!

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 03/12/2021 12:40

It was a fad for mine they wore them for about six months and then got bored. They were cheap fit bit copies. I don't think it's inherently a bad idea at all.

DeepaBeesKit · 03/12/2021 12:41

I think it's good. If its habit forming it's good habits to form!

purplecorkheart · 03/12/2021 12:42

I know my friends little girl wants one purely because she is not allowed have a phone and she wants her mom to be able to phone her and her watch buzzes when she is to come in.

AllTheCakes · 03/12/2021 12:42

Encouraging healthy eating and exercise isn’t a bad thing as long as it isn’t focused on weight loss and approached in a sensible way.

WorriedGiraffe · 03/12/2021 12:44

I think it’s good for them to learn healthy habits and responsibility from a young age, it just needs monitoring like most other things. Especially helpful as not all children have adults willing/able to make the healthy choices for them. Those cheap fitbits are about £15-20 on Amazon so not too expensive either. She could be asking for much worse!

Pipsandseeds · 03/12/2021 12:47

I agree. My DS (10) wants one but I have resisted because I don’t think it’s a healthy way for kids to think about physical activity. They should naturally be in an environment where they move about all the time. It shouldn’t be something artificial and forced. It’s really tricky though because the reality is that we live in a world that encourages sedentary behaviour, surrounded by sugary food so I guess at some point they have to learn to live with that. Like you, I also worry about obsessive behaviour around these things.

Swearwolf · 03/12/2021 12:47

My 9 year old has a garmin watch and it's nothing to do with health or fatness. He's a sporty kid, loves doing races with his friends at breaktime, and likes to see how far they have all gone. It's a little competition with himself half the time, he just enjoys it.

Suprima · 03/12/2021 12:50

I would say that constant snacking and gaming is probably worse

CovidPassQuestion · 03/12/2021 12:51

Is it not far healthier to count steps than to count calories, in terms of evaluating a healthy lifestyle?

Original poster
Fruitteatime · 03/12/2021 12:51

I suppose I understand that at her age yes it just for fun but I don't think I can separate that from how it may influence her as a teenager or adult.

What I have read about extrinsic motivators is that it doesn't necessarily work in the long term too. I don't really want to buy her a present that will be discarded after a few months use or obsessed over either. This is what I mean for overthinking!

OP posts:
Original poster
Fruitteatime · 03/12/2021 12:52

@Suprima

I would say that constant snacking and gaming is probably worse
Agreed but that's not the alternative in our house, she does extracurricular activities five times a week!
OP posts:
Sally872 · 03/12/2021 12:54

I think the steps may motivate them initially then they might see other benefits of walking. I haven't heard of any children addicted to their pedometer. It's just a bit of fun, your right you are overthinking.

SomethingBeginningWithX · 03/12/2021 13:05

My nearly 6 year old is getting a smart watch (it doesn't make calls) and part of the reason is the pedometer. He just finds it interesting and is always asking DH about his steps etc. It's just something they fine fascinating.

He is also really interested in the traffic light food markings, and generally in healthy food and unhealthy food. We don't mind at all, it's good for him to learn about nutrition and eating a variety, limiting 'red' foods etc. Even my 3 year old knows about the traffic light colours and is interested.

It's never occurred to me to worry about it! We try to have quite a relaxed approach to food, exercise etc and just naturally have a balanced diet and mix of activities in the hope they adopt the approach they need for a healthy, happy lifestyle. I don't think a smart watch will cause any issues!

Pipsandseeds · 03/12/2021 13:07

If my kids ask me for something I don’t really want to buy, I tell them to save their pocket money and buy it themselves. I find this focuses the mind on whether they really want some piece of junk just because their friends have it! You do have to give reasonably generous pocket money to make this realistic though.

MeredithGreyishblue · 03/12/2021 13:10

You're overthinking.

Schools absolutely should be educating kids about healthy eating. Some parents don't do it for their kids. For many reasons.

And encouraging activity is not the same as obsessional anything!

Rollercoaster1920 · 03/12/2021 13:10

Our 7 and 9 year old got some at some point in the last year it seemed to be a fad at school with lots of kids getting them. There is the link to school encouraging a daily mile and some sports events. The younger one still wears it, the eldest now only rarely.

We bought honor bands for less that £30. Beware that each one needed to be paired via Bluetooth to a device to set up. So you need a phone or tablet for each one. Luckily both kids have an ipad but recognise that might not be true for everyone.

I thought fitbits and garmins were too much for the kids so the Honor band price was good. It has heart rate reading too, no GPS. The band is just small enough for the 7 year old.

They got a little competitive about step counts, but likely way off with primary age leaping, arm waving etc. Didn't get obsessive and now used as watches.

dameofdilemma · 03/12/2021 13:13

What Suprima said.

Obesity is a very serious problem in this country. And fitbits aren't the problem.

Children who are significantly overweight and eat unhealthily are much more likely to go on to have serious health issues as adults.

An awareness of healthy eating and finding activities that don't encourage constant snacking on junk, is no bad thing.

dameofdilemma · 03/12/2021 13:14

Not directed specifically at you OP just to clarify!

DontPeeInThePlayHouse · 03/12/2021 13:16

What I don't like in school is when they label the food good and bad while doing their health topics. I've had so many children misinterpret this and it's led to issues around meals.

Everything in moderation is what should be taught.

EmeraldShamrock · 03/12/2021 13:16

No I don't think it will have a negative impact if only counting steps.

The novelty will soon fade.

I rarely wear mine these days.

Tal45 · 03/12/2021 13:16

Kids looking to reduce sugar in their diet is a really good thing. Processed sugar isn't needed in the diet at all, there are much healthier carbs. It's great that she's already aware and looking into it. It's good that the focus was on sugar and not fat - that I think could cause problems not least because a lot of low fat options are full of sugar but also because some fat is needed.

A pedometer is also great especially if it encourages them to walk more - they get bored of it after a while though.

TBH it sounds like you're a quite anxious over thinker. As someone who comes from a family like that I'd say you are probably the most likely thing to make your dd over anxious too. Might be nature, might be nurture but does tend to run in families.

Werehamster · 03/12/2021 13:16

Agreed but that's not the alternative in our house, she does extracurricular activities five times a week!

But not many parents can afford this and can manage it with work and family commitments, so you are extremely privileged. For many kids, they don't have these kinds of opportunities but encouraging things like healthy eating and walking are a cheaper, easier alternative.

DelurkingAJ · 03/12/2021 13:20

DS1 got when as part of a school thing and got bored after a couple of months. It was eye opening for us that he easily did 14,000 steps on a low activity day. But I do get your concerns. I had a bit of a chat with the school when he was in YR and verging on underweight and came back saying he had to stop having full fat milk and yoghurt because there were too many calories. I get why it’s important on a group basis but a little common sense should be applied!

SSOYS · 03/12/2021 13:21

I agree, OP. I'd far rather children learn that being active is normal and enjoyable in itself rather than because one is trying to hit a target number of steps.

PrincessNutella · 03/12/2021 13:27

I 100 percent disagree with you, OP. I think it's a great way to encourage kids to be able to have control and set goals for themselves if they want to do so. And what a simple, manageable, healthy goal walking is.