Tips for Fitness Professionals Who Work With Kids!

When it comes to kids, physical activity must be fun! Kids don’t view exercise in the same way that adults do. Adults seek out exercise for health related benefits, kids are not concerned with the physiological training effect of exercise, they come for the psychological rewards…social interaction, personal success and fun! Whether leading a kid’s fitness class or developing youth fitness programs you need to consider all of the things that motivate kids to move and keep them coming back for more.

Kids require a dynamic environment to keep them engaged and motivated. With an attention span that diminishes rapidly, kid’s are in need of stimulus that changes frequently. Kid’s fitness programs should be play based. The children should perceive themselves as playing; the exercise is hidden in the games and activities. Here’s where the “fun factor” comes in, the more fun the kids have, the more they will move! The more we can get kids to move, the greater the exercise training benefit they receive.

Kids are natural interval trainers, they have a distinctive “go and stop” rhythm to their natural energy patterns. Due to the immaturity of their cardiovascular system they are not comfortable elevating and sustaining their heart rate. Kids tire quickly, but they also recover quickly! The physiological and psychological needs of children demonstrate the importance of dynamic fitness programming.

If this is an area of training that sounds interesting, you should consider continuing your education with advanced training to safely and effectively work with the youth of all ages and fitness levels. An excellent home-study CEC course that is recognized by all major certification organizations in the US and Canada is:

JrFit: Youth Fitness Specialty Certification

This in depth program (worth 19-24 CECs) will teach already certified and experienced personal trainers, lifestyle coaches, and athletic trainers to safely and effectively train youth ages 7-17.

American Academy of Health and Fitness: Fitness Specialty Certifications and Continuing Education Home Study Courses for Health and Fitness Professionals