All Out Fitness » Children

Children Fitness Equipment

David — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:34:45 +0000

Not Just For The Playground Anymore

In what our kids call “The Olden Days” the only fitness equipment for children was found in the playgrounds that used to abound in any city or town. Parallel bars, swings, monkey-bars and other assorted steel-pipe-set-in-the-ground-in-concrete apparatuses were there to facilitate fitness in children by encouraging them to climb and swing like monkeys. Concerns about safety and in an effort to prevent our children from getting any bumps, bruises and scrapes (none of which harmed their parents or grandparents in any permanent way), much of this playground equipment is gone. It has been replaced by plastic devices with no sharp edges or exposed fasteners, all designed like boxes and pipes, but without much to challenge those little bodies into developing any muscles.

Sensing the large gap in the marketplace, coupled with the growing concern about child obesity, gym equipment manufacturers have all come out with “child-sized” equipment that are downsized versions of that found in the adult area of the health club. There are often areas in fitness centers set aside for children fitness equipment, supervised by a competent adult trainer to show the kids how to get the most out of the equipment and develop their bodies. Just like in the adult programs, there are also available nutritional recommendations.

Under good supervision, children are encouraged to use the equipment in a regular program designed to help their developing bodies produce muscle that will promote their good health and prepare them properly for any athletic endeavor, whether it is formal school athletics or sandlot pick-up games. The lessons learned on children fitness equipment will go a long way towards establishing what could be the good habit of a lifetime of fitness training.

Children fitness equipment includes: Pint-sized treadmills and elliptical machines, downsized weight-loaded devices to work arms, legs, backs, and torsos. The weights are lighter and are raised in smaller increments, but they accomplish the same results as the full-sized equipment. Moving into the free-weight area, there are no downsized bars or plates, but these may be use (under supervision, of course) by children by just using smaller weights and the lower positions on the racks.

Children’s Fitness

Lance — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:57:46 +0000

3 ways to get more fitness into your child’s life

In today’s age of television, internet and video games, it is sometimes hard to make sure your children are getting enough exercise. Gone are the days when your child could just go outside and play for hours and run all over the neighborhood. For safety reasons, many children are limited to playing in their own backyard or even an apartment instead of the playground. Here are three children’s fitness ideas to increase the amount of exercise in your child’s life:

Children’s Fitness Gym

Your local fitness center may have programs for children. They may also have programs in which you and your child can participate together. In addition to traditional fitness centers, there are specialty fitness centers that are for children. These fitness centers have play programs for your child to ensure they have fun while getting the exercise they need. Children’s fitness centers have parent and child classes, independent classes for your child and playtime sessions. In addition, they may have camps and fun days where you can drop off your child and get some much needed free time!

Get Involved

The best way to get your child off the couch is to set a good example. Go exercise yourself, and invite your child to join in. Pick fun activities that you know your child will love. Activities can be as simple as going for a walk, going on a hike or playing catch outside. When your child sees you being active, they will be encouraged to do the same.

Combine Exercise with Video Games

Do you have a child who loves video games? There are now video games on the market that encourage your child to get moving. There are dancing games, which require your child to use a dance pad to match the symbols on the screen. There are also video game consoles that have integrated movement into the game controller. You have to move your body to play the game. These games are fun and interactive for the whole family. As a bonus, many games also have a workout mode that lets you track your fitness.

Regardless of how you do it, getting your children to exercise is important. Children’s fitness is key to their proper physical development and sets up a lifetime of good habits. Getting into the habit at an early age can add years to your child’s life.