Pointers for kids fitness

[BrassicaBabe]

Hi

I have 2 7 year olds. I think their fitness level is pretty low and banking on school PE to sort it out doesn't look like it's a good plan.

DD comes to parkrun. We do it in 45-50 mins . I try to be patient and remember what it's like being little but it's so slow it feels like we're going backwards. We do a mix of running and walking all at her pace. But she never gets out of breath. If I push her she sticks her heels in and stops. So I have to be really careful and just take it at her pace. But we probably only go every 2-3 weeks.

DS is even worse. He's tried parkrun twice and twice we've scratched. About 1/3 of the way in his moans that his legs hurt. Again never gets out of puff. DD doesn't like cycling but DS does (ish). So we've just done a bike ride - 4.6k in 49 mins. Again lots of stopping, a tad flushed in the face but not out of breath.

I think they aren't doing enough to improve their fitness but also haven't found anything that they really enjoy doing. We've also tried tennis and cricket. Football doesn't seem to interest them. I've just this week bought myself a treadmill (winter is coming which prompted the purchase) maybe we do can something here with them?

Any tips, advice or pointers? Both are normal weight. We eat healthily generally. But I'd like them to be more active. And to enjoy being active!

Do you have a trampoline park near you? Might be an activity to try, lots of fun.

Swimming?
Scooter?

Also - speaking as a new runner myself, I'm quaking at the idea at just being told to do a park run, just like that. The programs that teach new runners (like C25K) start with much shorter running times and distances covered, then build up over time. Straight to a park run is a tad unfair.

I love Parkrun, but forcing someone in to any exercise usually backfires at some point. So don't try to increase/change what you're doing there.

Is there a Junior Parkrun near you? The shorter course might suit better.

Wouid they still be in going to the park and dashing round like mad things? Just being in a playground (climbing, swinging etc) is activity, as is walking there and back. And family games of things like French Cricket or Piggy-in-theMiddle end up,as fun.

Proper park run as in 5k - bloody hell thats a lot for someone unfit and who doesn't enjoy it!

Junior Parkrun would be loads better. Get them really confident at 2k and then build it up.

I think at that age exercise should be less structured so just go for a walk round some local footpaths or kicking a football in the garden. I have been running for nearly 2 years in a club & it takes me 40-45mins to do our local parkrun!

Geocaching!! Look it up! We can cover miles doing this

It's like a worldwide treasure hunt.....little caches are hidden everywhere, there's about 300 in our town and immediate surroundings

Track them down and log them, my kids have all loved this over the years. Pack a picnic and off you go

(Smartphone required)

www.geocaching.com

We're talking about stopping football for DD3 as she's bored with it and they have no room in the older kids class yet. She does swimming (30 min lesson and an hour as a family), dancing (ballet and tap combo over 45 mins) & tennis (1hr) every week as well. I run and am looking forward to taking her to junior parkrun once she turns 4. She's always on the go, has "sports guy" at nursery weekly, only drinks water or milk and her fave food is broccoli. She is in age/size appropriate clothes. I'm not too worried about fitness. But...

She is smack bang on the overweight/obese borderline according to the NHS bmi centile calculator: I'm keeping the activities going and waiting for the growth spurt.

Thanks for your messages.

To be more clear, we do parkrun because DD wants to go. We walk/run at her pace and direction. And we only go on weeks when she wants to go. Even though we are slow she still really likes it.

DS came once and hated it. So he didn't come again until today when he said he was super sure he wanted to come again. But still hated it.

No junior parkrun in our corner of the world.

We do geocaching. Love that one

I did C25K. Never thought of it for kids. I'm very keen to see if they might fancy it.

I want to find something they love.

Maybe the trick is just generally to keep moving rather than getting out of puff....

Trampolining?
Horse riding?
Alongside the running a few kids races,a colour run,superhero run.... great fun usually with s medal included. They can 'train' for them

Virtual runs are good too

Just dance on youtube is great for fun and fitness. Skipping rope is another one. My kids are very fit but it's from short bursts of fun activity rather than sport.