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Teaching Kids to Effectively Exercise

Teaching Kids to Effectively Exercise

Unlike adults, most kids are not interested in organized or supervised exercise programs. Children prefer activities that are typically considered free play. If you plan to set a regular exercise program for children understand that they do require education and motivation to participate in a regular routine.

Here are a few tips on teaching and motivating children to exercise:

  1. Clear Training Objectives: If you are organizing a regular routine workout with children, set clear training objectives in a simple to understand manner.

  2. Use concise instruction with precise demonstration: Show and tell is a simple but effective way to communicate the information.

  3. Attentive Supervision: Many children lack confidence in their exercise abilities and appreciate adult supervision and encouragement. A qualified instructor can provide great motivation for young exercisers.

  4. Appropriate Assistance: Strength training is often difficult for young exercisers. Provide a little manual assistance to guide them to a successful exercise experience.

  5. One Task at a Time: Give children only one task at a time to ensure they do not become confused. This increases the probability they will progress successfully through the exercise session.

  6. Gradual Progression: Take small steps with young exercisers. Do not introduce a new task until the first one is mastered. Better to have young exercisers learn the correct way to exercise than to un-learn the wrong way.

  7. Positive Reinforcement: Increase a child’s self-confidence and satisfaction with exercise by giving them encouraging comments, personal compliments or a pat on the shoulder. Telling children they are doing a good job is one of the best ways to keep them doing a good job.

  8. Specific Feedback: Positive reinforcement is much more meaningful when delivered with specific feedback. Giving a reason for your comment increases the value of the statement.

  9. Careful Questioning: Children may be reluctant to give information that could be useful in selecting the right exercises. Try to ask questions that require more than a yes and no answer.

  10. Pre- and Post-Exercise Dialogue: Spend some time before and after an exercise session in an enthusiastic conversation with the children. It will give you insight into what makes them tick.
Source: ACE Youth Fitness Book, 2001