More Kids "Working Out" Indoor Less Playing Outdoor

A growing number of parents are hoping to get their kids more active by enrolling them in gyms and workout classes complete with treadmills and circuit stations.

An article from Monday on MSNBC reports that last year 1.3 million children ages 6 to 11 were members of a health club, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association.

“Parents need a place where they know their kids can stay active, stay healthy and be in a safe place that’s supervised by professional people,” says Celia Kibler, who is quoted in the article. Kibler is the owner of Funfit a family health club chain created in Maryland in 1987.

But it isn't just exercise classes that kids are doing indoors in an effort to stay fit, a new product called Gamercize is already on the market here in the U.S. It's UK manufacturers claim it will help kids stay fit while playing video games. It differs from the Wii Fit in that it allows kids to play any game and not just pre-loaded ones that focus on strength training, balance and aerobic activity. It retails for about $270 dollars and consists of a game controller along with a mini stair stepper or an mini exercise bike.  The catch is that the games stop working if stepping or cycling stop.

"Kids become so plugged into the games, they forget they are exercising," says Terry Grim, director of business development for KickStart Fitness, the U.S. distributor of the Gamercize. According to Grim, about 3,000 Gamercize devices were sold in the last quarter. The product is used in the UK by schools and group fitness centers.

The goal of health and weight loss in an overweight child are important situations for parents  to address. They can take the initiative to guide their children to nutritious foods and increased exercise. However the trend toward adult organized activities and structured indoor playtime such as kids workout classes over outdoor play leaves many other parents alarmed.

The moms and dads behind Playborhood advocate free play and outdoor time for children over excessive indoor activities facilitated by parents and teachers. Their site contains essays, links and discussion on the growing decline of free, unstructured play--not play that's free of cost, but play entirely dictated by children's interests and imaginations.

Others like Dr. Alvin Rosenfield, co-author of the book "The Over-Scheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyper-Parenting Trap" recommend valuing downtime and taking the focus off mastering every activity.

"None of that means you shouldn't encourage him to participate in some type of activity. In fact, it's important that he does.  It just means that after you've exposed him to many novel experiences, you should let him choose which activities to explore further," Rosenfield says.

Lenore Skenazy, a New York City columnist also advocates reducing adult control over the minutiae of children's play and activity. She drew widespread criticism from readers when she described how she let her 9-year-old son take the subway alone. Skenazy recently theorized on her blog about the mixed blessing the current economic decline could be for children.

"Not that I want this to be a Great Depression. I hope it’s not. But if it is, I see kids emerging from their dens when their X-Boxes break and their parents can’t afford to replace them. I see kids dropping out of travel soccer, when their parents can’t afford the gas. I see kids figuring out how to retool their bikes and skates and maybe even their MP3 players when their parents can’t immediately buy them the newest, niftiest models. In other words, I see fancy toys and vacations and enrichment classes falling away. And the only thing left is…childhood."

Consider this, in a city as large as Chicago, it's easy to give in to the idea that more is better. It's a bit like a buffet, there's more than enough appealing and tempting choices, but it doesn't mean one should stuff themselves with every offering. Rather than signing your child up for a hiking class, just take your kids for a hike one day. Be matter of fact about it, there probably isn't any need to talk it up or sell it to them anyway. Kids and the outdoors are a natural combination.

Pack a drink, maybe a snack or make picking one up on the way part of the fun as kids will likely appreciate a little refueling on a longer than usual hike or walk. Point out interesting things along the way, whatever comes to mind. Let the conversation flow or don't talk and just enjoy the peace and quiet together. Without the stress of driving and fighting traffic, you'll be better able to engage in conversation when it feels natural with your kids and they'll likely share their thoughts too.

Chicago area parents looking for a place to get in touch with nature can take advantage of this excellent resource from the Chicago Wilderness childrens initiative "Leave No Child Inside" with listings of city and suburban nature and environmental events as well as outdoor areas to volunteer at as a family.

For even more ideas on ways to stay active and play more, see this list: 101 Ways to Keep Your Kids Moving. Most can be done outdoors.

Comments

[Josie]

It's scary to think that in just a few decades even children living in suburbia have forgotten how to play outside. My children are both under the age of 2. We just took them camping and hiking. Kids need to get out and burn energy. It helps them grow. Their bodies need to move to build strength and endurance. We can't afford to raise a generation that is completely out of touch with nature.

~Josie