You know how McDonald's had that sign about more than a billion served? I guess your Gold's Gym and your YMCA are launching the counter-attack.
Almost a million kids between the ages of 6 and 17 are now using personal trainers, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. One possible reason: P.E. classes have been cut from schools, so parents who can afford trainer fees want to make sure their kids get some exercise. Hmmm, could this be one of many reasons childhood obesity is rising so fast among low-income families? In addition to weight worries, some parents want their kids to have better coordination or do sport-specific training. But as one expert cautions, the trainer should know how to work with kids' developing bodies
to avoid overuse injuries. And kids can get exercise in ways that don't cost money, like biking swimming, and playing tag.
In my non-blogging life I work as a personal trainer, so you might think I read this and see dollar signs. But really, I can think of some other problems with kids in training. For example, I'd caution parents against signing up really young kids, unless there is a compelling reason they would benefit from one-on-one attention. The last thing you want to do is to pressure your child into sessions and watch them develop a serious rebellious aversion to exercise. And I'll be honest: there's a ton of unqualified people in this business, so you really have to make sure the person has skills and knowledge. Look for trainer certification from a reputable organization, and make sure the person understands kid needs and will make the sessions fun. Fun exercise? That's crazy talk! Now try telling that one to adults.
