Info on children and exercise please

[claridge]

Hi you informed group of people

My 12 year old niece is interested in adapting a regular finess routine into her week.

Children and exercise is not my specalist field so if anyone out there can give me some handy hints on how to get her started with cardio and weights (if weights allowed at this age) - then that would be fantastic

She is not overweight by any means and resonably fit with no medical problems. She plays basket ball once a week as part of her school Physical Education requirement, and a little tennis on the weekends - but she would like to become fitter and stronger. She loves ANYTHING to do with fitness so she will not be hard to please.

Where to start?

 

[NurseLRT]

I can remember reading somewhere that adolescents aren't supposed to train with heavy weights because of bone growth. I might be wrong. I think something like pilates, aerobic dance, etc. would be great. Pilates would be great to develop strength and she wouldn't have to worry about using weights and risking injury to her body and risk harming her growth. I can remember doing aerobics at this age and I loved it.

Good luck and have fun with your daughter,
Lori

 

[Timber99]

There was a thread not long ago when Cathe addressed this issue. It was a lot of good banter about exercise in younger kids and what is and is not encouraged. I found it and pasted it below but I don't know if I did it right. Let's hope this works!

http://69.0.137.118/dc/dcboard.php?...ic_id=36718&mesg_id=36718&listing_type=search

Edited to add - yahoo! It worked Hope it helps! Christine

 

[NurseLRT]

timber, that is a great thread--lots of good links. I like Cathe's reply, she seems to know what kids will enjoy and encourages them to have fun. I read the statement form the American Academy of Pediatrics--that is good to know, I have 2 boys.

Lori

 

[claridge]

Thanks very much - I appreciate you hunting that out for me. Its a great thread and Im going to get some great ideas from it.