does anyone run/jog with their dc?

[SSSantaClausIzzzComing]

I'm wondering whether dd and I should try jogging together (will be quite a challenge for me never mind dd...

She needs to get more exercise. I have sent her to try out various group and individual sports but she is not really very interested in sports or naturally very talented. Her movements are a bit wild and hit and miss.

She did yoga for a bit and liked that but then the teacher disappeared off to an ashram for 6 months and she is looking chubbier later, so really need to try something and running seemed fairly straight-forward and easy to organise.

Just wondering, is jogging ok for 8 year olds (thinking of jolting spine/knees? Would anyone recommend it from their own experience of running with kids?

i swam a lot at that age and don't think running long distances is much fun for children. sprinting is but one is born to that.

am a bit sad you think your 8yo is 'looking chubbier'.

Thanks for the replies. Well she has put on weight fishie. I wouldn't say it is dramatic but I do think compared to last year she has a thick tummy. When she bends over, the skin folds and I hve found trousers for her age/height are too tight generally so I do think she is overweight,. Not hugely or dramatically so but I worry it needs to be turned around. However she has not enjoyed dance, martial arts, ball games, gymnastics or whatever we have tried at school or extra-curricular, I don't know what would be a good solution.

I don't think we would run huge distances (pant wheeze) but I am thinking of slowly building up to a 20 minute jog 3x a week in the mornings. Do you find that drastic for an 8 year old? Yes, power walking would be a good way in to running I think. I am not a runner myself so we are both starting pretty much from scratch.

Hi there
I was just wondering if you had tried your local running group. Our club is great for kiddies (infact it is mainly run for the kids) I was a trainer there for about 3 years before I became pregnant. I had a huge range of abilities and ages from 5 - 15 years. All the children loved the socialising and we made it as fun as possible, doing relay races, time trials and sometimes even played rounders. We also organised parties, days out and races for other clubs. As long as you build it up gradually and make it fun she will be fine.

Sorry I haven't seen this before, no time to go online (Christmas stress !) Thanks, that's a great idea. Never crossed my mind to look for a running club. Will investigate

Sorry, But how old is she?

I'd love to, I'm 37 and dd is 6, she wants to come with me. I hope in about 4 yrs we might be able to go for a jog??!!

Am I kidding myself?

unlike hawesmead I have no serious knowledge of running and kids but my understanding is that it's a good form of exercise (think about what most kids do all play time, playing tag, football, skipping etc) and the beauty of running is that you can do it at any level - and compete against yourself rather than other people, if the latter doesn;t suit. you can set your own targets to work towards. I think without targets it could be boring though. check out some runners websites like goodrunguide.co.uk where you can measure how far you go, keep a log, set your own training schedule. also an ipod might make it more alluring! having said all that common sense tells me you need to keep it moderate, look up stretches for children, listen to her body etc - it owuld be good to see if you can find some specific advice somewhere on the web (bet you can)

Sorry haven't been online for a while so hadn't seen the last 3 posts! oops...

She's 8. Ok thanks hatwoman I'll have a look at that site. I am finidng it tbh a bit too COLD just atm but I think we will aim to do a bit of gentle jogging and the odd frantic mad sprint starting in early spring. I am quite sure that we will not be going overboard with it if I am participating.

Hi everyone, sorry to come so late to this, but just thought i would chip in ... I have been going out running with my dd since she was about 3 ... I have always run but have been plagued with injuries over the past couple of years so have spent more time rehabilitating myself than anything else! Dd was always asking if she could come for a run with me and so we went out gently jogging (REALLY gentle pace!), stopped whenever she wanted to stop, and never more than a couple of miles. She did the Race for Life when she was 3.5, but dipped in and out of the race (dh followed us round the sidelines of the course, taking her out of the race and dropping her back in further on!!). She had a FAB time and got her medal etc. Quite a few young girls running the Race for Life with their mums/aunties etc.

Apols for length of post. I suppose what I am saying is go for it.

jogging is boring.

i can only jog (as an adult)because i know it is good for me...and i can barely make myself go even then. as a child?...no way never!

i did like badminton as a child though...and you could do that indoors.(has she tried this?)

walks together sound nice.

ScotsBird 2 miles, really. I'm going to check with my DH who is a PE teacher, if it's for kids as young as 4 yrs. If it is I think I'll start running in the park with Ds behind our house. He is fit as a fiddle my lad but mummy has 2 stones to lose. Gentle running around with Ds just might do the trick Thanks

I did running with dd on her bike - it seemed to work well enough.

We both cycle though which is far better and use the canal quite a bit as it is car free.

At first my dd wasn't to sure about it but we do about 6-7 miles along the canel at times. If we go on quite country roads we can go much further.

Am looking forward to the lighter mornings in February to get out and have a cycle ride on quite Sunday mornings.