Exercise Equipment For Kids - A Worrying Trend?

I've seen these things in fitness equipment magazines too. They actually have franchises set up for for kids' workouts and I think it is the dumbest damn thing I've ever seen.

What happened to kids going outside and actually being active? It's bad enough that as adults we are "nature stupid" and are inside too much, but now we're teaching our kids that in order to be healthy and fit they have to get on some piece of exercise equipment?!

This is a scary trend.

Ed

Ali I'm 100% with the part of you that sees this as a worrying trend. I once watched a BBC documentary on children and eating disorders and in it they had a segment on children exercising in a gym. What struck me is that you didn't even see a glimmer of a smile. Not one of those kids were having fun. It was serious work.

We need to encourage our children to play more by playing with them rather than encouraging them to be more like little adults.

Well, one problem with bikes and tennis sets is that it's currently 14 degrees Fahrenheit outside where I live. It will only get colder for the next 3 months and it won't warm up for 2 months after that. That tennis set isn't going to do the kid much good before April. And biking in the snow is questionable at best.

It seems pretty clear that kids could benefit from treadmill exercise, just like anyone else can. Worrying about whether the kids are having "fun" every minute of their day seems like part of the problem rather than part of the answer.

I don't like blatently fitness focused toys for children.. why? because I experienced this sort of thing. I was a pudgy bookish child and my mother gave me fitness and weightloss presents (half the time with the message that I was beautiful and that the thin standards were ridiculous and half the time with 'you're too fat). The truth was that I was active, outside a lot, biking, in dance classes and those are the things that should have been encouraged. The disney exercise tapes? They made me insecure and sensitive about my body... where the good example of my fit parents and natural child's tendency to play outside (in all weathers) if not encouraged to stay inside by video games and tv meant that I would have outgrown the awkward stage.. if food and weight had not been made into an issue. I've been trying now to follow my father's examples, not the dieting that was brought on by insecurity but the fitness that was brought by fun and wonder in what we can do.

Jesus Christ! Let'em play outside... like always have been. This civilization is getting crazy everyday...

I actaully don't see anything wrong with this. Little children want to do activities to emulate their parents. If Mom and Dad jump on the treadmill every morning, they are setting a wonderful example. And it certainly can't hurt if little Joey or Janey want to walk/run beside them. Of course, these shouldn't replace going outdoors and playing in the sunshine and fresh air. But for parents that can afford such "toys", I say Go For It!

I agree with Kelly and don't see anything wrong with this. Kids can't be just left outside by themselves in a lot of areas and in many families both parents work so it's not easy for them to get outside play time. AS long as they are getting exercise it is good

When I was growing up, my parents involved my brother and I in sports, which is how we got our exercise. We both had summer and winter sports (for me that was soccer and basketball/skiing). I think sports are a much better way for kids to be active, not only do you get exercise, but you learn how to interact with other children. I think it's sad that kids and parents can't go run around outside, and the cold weather can't be an excuse - I grew up in Canada and we would go play in the snow. Snowball fights or making snow forts are a great way to get kids outside and running around. Also, in my abnormal behaviour class we have talked about how having a wide social circle improves mental health and reduces depression. So running individually on a treadmill, rather than being involved with neighbourhood kids or sports teams, may impair mental health.

instead of adult fitness equipment for kids, they should make kids active toys for us grownups. Who wouldn't love a giant bigwheel?

I think this is another example of too much technology.

More technology means less intution about our bodies and I think less intuition is partly responsible for the obesity and health problems in our society.

My thought is still that it is less about the equipment and more about what is fun and how exercise is presented to kids.

If it is made to feel like a chore, then kids will begin rebelling against exercise and activity not just now, but for a good portion of their lives.

I'm still a big fan of jungle gyms, being outdoors, and making up games for kids. Fancy equipment may not be the answer for the childhood obesity epidemic.

Kids have all the workout equipment they need. Their bodies, parks, bikes, balls, bats, grass, dance and active parents.

This trend kinda freaks me out. If I had been given a mini elliptical machine as a kid, I think I would've been kinda scared. My parents bought us bikes, jump ropes, Skip-its (if anyone remembers those), and encouraged us to be active. I remember asking my dad to drop me off about 2 blocks from our house and let me "race" him home...I would run as fast as my little 5 year old legs could go while my dad crept along on the road to let me win. We used to run races and do bike races and have jump rope contests...you know, just being kids.

Totally agree with all these comments. Whatever happened to playing outside. How many kids would, in later life, view a treadmill as an instrument of oppression?

The way I see it, these kinds of toys are simply made to get at parents wallets. Even as an adult, I'm not going to do something for fitness that I don't enjoy. Why buy a mini trampoline when you can get the full sized variety? A treadmill is a necessity for me for winter, so I don't become a slug in the winter and can fully enjoy outdoor running the rest of the year. It does send a silly message to kids, but again, the point is just to get parents money.

In response to Ben's comment--no you can't play tennis in the snow but that doesn't mean kids have to play inside. Spend $5 on a sled. Growing up my friends and siblings would spend hours running up a hill and then sliding down. Or for the amount you spend on a mini treadmill, you could buy snowshoes for the whole family.

There are all different kinds of kids. I think some would really love this stuff and other would be bored by them. I was a shy, introverted kid and probably would have really taken to a children's ellitpical machine! (Just like how I take to the adult-sized elliptical at the gym now.)

On the surface this all seems harmless. However, how long before all the whacked out diets and exercise "guru's" get into this?

If it is done for fun, you could maybe understand it, but overall children should be getting their exercises by being the little dynamo's that they are.

I agree with your statements about kids exercise equipment. There are so many other fun kids exercise activities that can be done for little to no money at all.

Just think of all the household items you have that can be transformed into a creative and fun kids exercise. Set up some empty milk cartons at the end of the hall and roll up a few old socks. Bowling right there!

These kids exercises can help with gross and fine motor skills.

Hellooooo!!! Does no one believe in a healthy mix of activities for their kids. Yes, kids need outdoor activities as often and varied as possible. But most kids also enjoy indoor play and for many, video games are a major draw. My three year old wore himself out on his new Smart Cycle last night, smiling and cheering the whole time. Personally, I'd like to see more of this available, for us "grown" kids as well. Maybe a pedal powered spacecraft fighting aliens for the future of our galaxy, or a running + pad/station for the secret agents taking down the worlds bad guys. If you're not interested, so what. Others are interested and decent parents can add tools like this to round out their children's experiences.

When kids want to follow Mom or Dad into the Fitness Center, it's nice to have kid size equipment they can learn proper form with and feel "grownup". I agree that play activites are fantastic for growing young bodies, but not everyone lives in an area where kids can exercise safely outdoors.
As long as they're properly supervised, any activity the kids find enjoyable works.