| Sometimes kids may need a little tough love | | | | childhood obesity. Fitwize and Bulldog are other |
| when it comes to their weight. It's no secret that | | | | branches of kid-friendly gyms. They offer fun |
| nearly one third of American children are | | | | programs such as health-focused birthday parties, |
| overweight. This is no surprise since traditional, | | | | field trips with schools and a points system for |
| more active kids games like Tag and | | | | working out so kids can win prizes. They can |
| Hide-and-Go-Seek have been replaced by video | | | | even do their homework while exercising! |
| and computer games. Well it's about time that we | | | | Parents need to play an active role in the fitness |
| get our kids moving again - and what better way | | | | level of their children - especially since this |
| than in a fitness environment dedicated specifically | | | | generation is significantly less active than past |
| to the needs of children? | | | | generations. Encouraging an active lifestyle is the |
| Rclub Interactive Fitness is a kids-only gym | | | | best thing parents could do for their children - and |
| located in Pleasanton, California. It has its own | | | | making exercise fun doesn't hurt either. |
| child-size weightlifting machines and cardio | | | | Luckily there are online resources to help teach |
| equipment based on video games like Dance | | | | parents and children how to adopt a healthy |
| Dance Revolution. The weightlifting machines are | | | | fitness lifestyle. For instance, in my blog on Fitness |
| hydraulic and work off of body resistance. For | | | | Gear 101 I talk about the need for parents to |
| added enjoyment, children can play video games | | | | take an active role in the health of their children in |
| while they ride the bikes. The goal is to make | | | | my post "Tough Love". Children who are |
| exercise fun, so that children will remain active in | | | | overweight need to be encouraged to switch to a |
| the future. | | | | healthier lifestyle. The reintroduction of fitness |
| These kid-focused gyms are one of the newest | | | | programs in the North American elementary |
| trends in fitness; they generally target children | | | | school curriculum is a great way to open the eyes |
| between the ages of six and seventeen. This | | | | of parents of overweight children. Let's get our |
| trend emerged with the growing rates of | | | | kids moving again! |