Matt and Linda Browne belong to the same large coed health club in upscale Orange County, CA, yet they rarely workout together. They are adamant about not wanting to stick their children (Lindsey, age 9 and Daniel, age 7) in the babysitting room to do nothing but watch TV or play video games. So, they either take turns working out while the other watches the kids, or one parent misses their workout (usually Lisa). This is not the case in all health clubs.
In a recent article in the Orange County Register, health and fitness correspondent, Lisa Liddane, featured cases in which fitness is a family affair: “Christine Julian of Laguna Hills watches the news on CNN as she puts in an hour on the elliptical trainer at Bodies in Motion in Irvine. She’s not the only one in her family getting a workout on a Tuesday afternoon. Her daughter, Chloe Julian, 4 ½, stands at the top of a thick gymnastics padded wedge in the next room. Without hesitation, Chloe extends her arms forward and effortlessly tumbles down the pad. She gets up and smiles. The children’s group exercise class is one example of how health clubs are offering parents and kids an opportunity to work out simultaneously, albeit in separate parts of a fitness center. Julian and her husband were members of another fitness center chain, but switched to Bodies in Motion when they learned about the Kids in Motion program.
‘It’s a big trend,’ says Brooke McInnis-Correia, spokeswoman for the International Health and Racquet Sports Association (IHRSA). ‘There have always been family fitness types of centers, but they’ve usually been tennis and swimming clubs. What we’re seeing now is the growth of children’s fitness programming in your more traditional adult health clubs. McInnis-Correia says it’s happening because both clubs and parents recognize the need for kids to have more fitness options wherever and whenever possible, especially because physical activity in schools is declining.
A recent study from Tufts University underscored the need for kid’s fitness programs. It found that young girls who were pudgy as fourth-graders were nearly eight times more likely than their peers to be overweight as they reached middle age. ‘Fitness classes for kids allow the family to go to the health club together,’ McInnis-Correia says. ‘Parents don’t just drop off their kids for babysitting. It’s a win-win for both parents and kids.'”
Matthew Swift, General Manager of soonto-be-open Finest Fitness in Patchogue, NY, expects most of his memberships to be family-type memberships. “We see family fitness as the next major trend. Our facility will be 25,000-square-feet of family-type activities. We will have a general membership, a separate PACE circuit-training area for women, weight training area, a Kid’s PACE Express circuit, kid’s sports program, even a baseball school with batting cages. Our kids programs will target ages three to 13; these were normally the kids that got stuck in babysitting because they were too small for the adult equipment,” said Swift. Swift anticipates this type of facility to be so successful, that they are making plans to franchise their Finest Fitness package. Interested parties may contact them at 631-300-6239.
The quality of children’s fitness classes varies from one club to the next. Following are some guidelines of what to look for in kids’ fitness program by Dr. Stephen J. Virgilio, author of Active Startfor Healthy Kids’ (Human Kinetics):
• Environment: Are the classes held in a well lit, properly ventilated room that’s appealing and inviting to children?
• Equipment: Is the equipment age appropriate and sized for kids? Is there a qualified instructor supervising a child using strength-training equipment? Is the equipment stable, well-made and properly maintained?
• Instructor’s Education: What is the instructor’s educational background and training? A bachelor’s degree in physical education or exercise science is a minimum requirement. Experience working with kids is preferred, even if certification is not.
• Class Ratio: Is there one instructor for every five kids? The younger the children, the smaller the ratio should be.
• Personality and Teaching Style: Instructors should genuinely enjoy working with kids. Is the instructor a natural or is the demeanor strained or forced? How well does the leader handle children who don’t follow instructions, are distracted or disruptive? How are potential conflicts between kids defused? Is the atmosphere fun and playful? Does the instructor use clear, simple and vivid descriptions when giving directions? Does the instructor gently teach and reinforce proper technique and form?
• Class Format: Do the activities accommodate various fitness levels and abilities? Classes should not be competitive – they should give everyone a chance to succeed. Do the activities sustain the children’s attention? Are there enough breaks so kids can rest and drink fluids?
• Schedule: Are the classes scheduled at times of day when kids are most alert and active?
Adding a kid’s fitness program to an existing facility will not only attract new family memberships but it will also serve to introduce kids into a healthy fitness lifestyle and cultivate future adult memberships.
Rande LaDue is the President of Pro*Fit Enterprises. He can be contacted at 888.604.2244, or by email at pace@cox.net, or visit www.kidspaceexpress.com.
