Never before has the need for effective children’s fitness programs been so great, but is it a new phenomenon? In 1995, in the November issue of “Movement Today,” Pam Tosti, originator of the Fitastic Kids education program wrote:
• “64 percent of American children, five to 17 years of age, fail to meet fitness standards.”
• “Only a third of our children participates in daily physical education programs.”
• “The average two- to five-year-old watches 22 hours of TV per week.”
• “Half of our nation’s children have elevated cholesterol levels.”
• “The average child drinks 24 ounces of soda a day.”
• “67 percent of American children show three or more risk factors of heart disease.”
These statistics were frightening then, and obviously have not improved. Our school systems were not able to fix the problem over the last 10 years, and so the private sector has good reasons to become involved:
1. The private sector has an obligation to make a contribution to fitness for the next generation.
2. The private sector will find a new profit center, if good programs can be developed.
Our fitness industry is probably the best in the world, but it applies little knowledge to the needs and developmental stages of children. For them, we must get away from “working out” and change it to “playing in.” Children must be guided and taught, not checked and “worked over.” They must create movement, solve problems and become excited about their discoveries. They want to do something they enjoy, something new, never repetitious, and always challenging. Work is hard, but work can be fun if it feels like play with a challenge!
As long as our industry is only employing personal trainers, coaches, and exercise physiologists, it will have great difficulties relating to that new potential young club member and meeting the responsibility in society.
What needs to be done, in addition to:
• finding 1,200 to 12,000 square feet of space,
• finding a true educator to run the program, and
• finding equipment that is challenging to students’ imaginations?
We need age-appropriate programs and a philosophy of “every child is a winner.” Such programs must offer physical and mental exploration, as this is the foundation for a lifetime of learning. It leads to self-actualization. We use dance, strength, and agility and apply it to activities that our students will utilize throughout adulthood.
AGE-APPROPRIATE PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Ages 12 to 18 months and 18 to 24 months: “Play Gym” (45-minute session)
A program for the youngest students who are introduced to creative climbing equipment. They playfully learn to move over, under, through, around, and on apparatus in a safe manner. The main focus is to increase the child’s body awareness and sense of his/her surroundings in terms of sharing space. A parent is a child’s partner in the class.
Ages 2 & 3: “Parent & Child”
The young child is now encouraged to perform movement challenges on and off equipment. The focus, in addition to the lasting effect of Parent & Child, is balance and locomotion skills, strength and awareness of ability. The child will develop more listening skills as he/she follows directions, rules, and routines.
Ages 3 & 4: “Movement Exploration”
Children start developing a definite independence from parents and further enhance their listening skills. Children also continue to follow simple directions and to accomplish basic movement skills without the parent. The focus is on exploring the fundamental use of body parts and weight transfer on and off equipment.
Ages 4 & 5: “Movement Education”
The curiosity of this age group provides the motivation for moving and learning. Unique equipment set-ups and teaching techniques will give students the opportunity of self-challenge in a physical and mental sense. Students are given the opportunity to develop movement skills and techniques that conquer more difficult challenges later on.
Ages 5 & 6:
With previous movement training, the child is now able to enter a variety of courses depending on the club’s facility and specialty staff. For example:
• “Educational Gymnastics”
• “Movement and Music”
• “Parent and Child Yoga”
• “A.B.C.” (Athletics, Ballhandling, and Coordination)
• “Challenge Gym”
• “Creative Movement, Tap & Gym”
Ages 7 & older:
Second- and third-graders are ready for a program that introduces cross-training and kids’ circuit training techniques. The child can build strength, flexibility, and balance. He or she can also benefit from cardiovascular conditioning. The child’s creativity must always be challenged and programs must accommodate the busy lifestyles of today’s families. Selfcompetition now plays an important factor. A comparison of ability is unnecessary, counter-productive and must be eliminated. Individual improvement with positive reinforcement and encouragement is the key to success for a program that has “every child a winner.”
Siegfried Gerstung is the President of Gerstung Inter-Sport. He can be contacted at 800.922.3575, or by email atsg@gerstung.com.
