There is now a growing trend in children hitting the gym. Last year alone, there were 1.3 million of children ages 6 and 11 who were reported to join gyms and physical fitness clubs. This might stemmed from the fact that as more and more adults find the benefits of physical fitness, they also want to share these benefits to their children. Also with the growing rate of obesity in children, this was an innovative way to keep kids healthy.
Like adults, children need to exercise too. They need at least an hour of physical activity each day. Regular exercise can help children to feel less stressed, feel confident about their bodies, keep a healthy weight, build and keep healthy bones, muscles and joints; and sleep better at night. There are plenty of options to keep kids get in shape like sport, home gyms, active video games, and traditional outdoor games, But when all else fails, the gym seems to be the best solution. One of the major factors that parents look for in a gym is the availability of equipment to fit their small frames. Adult machines and equipments are unsuited for kids, and children using them are at a high risk for injury. Some gyms offer kids gym equipments like the down-sized treadmills and elliptical for smaller frames. There are kid’s ski trainer machines and a new walking device that they call “moonwalker”. There are gyms that offer weight machines for kids that use hydraulics to create resistance. With no weights to maneuver, these are safe for children to use. There are fitness centers that offer programs for both adult and children. Parent who hit the gym can now leave their children with their classes while staying physically fit too. But there is also a growing trend for kids only gyms where they can participate in a range of fun fitness activities and their accomplishments are rewarded with apples and bananas. There are kid’s gyms that offer children exercise program that resemble video games. They have stationery bicycles where kids can race each other or competitors in a graphic gaming environment. It also includes virtual boxing with space age setting. In the past, only serious child athletes get to see professional trainers for private sessions. Nowadays, personal trainers also see an increase in young clients. Average kids are signing up for personal training sessions in order to get fit and lose weight. A lot of trainers promote their services for the whole family so parents who sign up for sessions also get their kids involved.
As more and more children are glued watching TV everyday, they spend less time doing physical activity like running and playing. Parents should set a good example and limit TV, video games and computer time. They also set a good example by staying fit and active as well. Exercising together can be fun for everyone, so they can enroll their children in kid’s gym program while they also hit the gym. Gyms, health clubs, or fitness centers no longer just cater to adults and teens. More and more businesses are offering equipment and activities that target the younger market.