I've spent the last few weeks contemplating the transition from teenager to adulthood and how this applies to fitness and personal workouts. I have a child in this age bracket right now. My oldest son graduated from high school last spring, and he has always been an active kid. Whether it is playing basketball or chasing his younger siblings around the neighborhood, he has always loved joining in for any sport or activity. But the question I have been asking myself is this, "What happens when organized sports are over and you are just too old to run around outside with your little brothers and sisters?". My son has been trying to answer this question himself. All of a sudden he is noticing that he is a bit out of shape compared to the last few years and he is trying to figure out what to do. He has started running a few days a week, and ran about 2 miles with me the other day. I feel lucky and proud that he is motivated enough to want to get up and head out the door. But, it really makes me think about all the youth out there that are not motivated to do this. So many kids get out of high school where they have been active members of teams for years. In an instant, they have no practice to attend, and no reason to get up and go to the gym or hit the courts for a workout. And what about the kids who haven't participated in fitness? What are the chances they will be motivated to go workout?
Thinking about these things has lead me to a few conclusions: The first is that we have to work very hard as parents to find activities that our kids really love to do. Just like adults, if they don't love their workouts, are they going to keep doing them? Chances are they won't. They may be able to take those big lessons they've learned about teamwork or overall health and apply them, but they may just decide that now they can finally take a break from doing that sport they hated anyway. This is the last thing we want to see happen.
The second thought I've had is the necessity to keep encouraging kids to participate in team sports that they do love. For instance, I suggested to my son that he join a basketball team at the local recreation center or at his community college. There is no reason that we can't continue with team sports just because we turn 18, is there? Not only will they be happy with their fitness regime, but the social interactions will be great.
My final thought about this transition goes back to the same old idea that those who know me have heard me say forever. We have to set the fitness example to our kids and demonstrate consistency that fitness time is a part of every day. Kids who watch parents that workout daily will follow that example because they understand it to be the norm in life. They won't think it is unusal at all to go to the gym when they have been watching their parents do it every day since birth.
Encouraging our post-high school, early adult children to keep up the habit of health and fitness is one of the best gifts we can give them. Just a few positive words on the topic may help them stay motivated, help avoid the weight gain that often coincides with the early college years, and set them up for a lifetime of great health. But, in order to reach this phase, we have to make sure we haven't skipped any of the steps along the way....in other words, we start health and fitness early and often to ensure that we continue the habits well into our late aduthood.
In Good Health,
Jenn
Thinking about these things has lead me to a few conclusions: The first is that we have to work very hard as parents to find activities that our kids really love to do. Just like adults, if they don't love their workouts, are they going to keep doing them? Chances are they won't. They may be able to take those big lessons they've learned about teamwork or overall health and apply them, but they may just decide that now they can finally take a break from doing that sport they hated anyway. This is the last thing we want to see happen.
The second thought I've had is the necessity to keep encouraging kids to participate in team sports that they do love. For instance, I suggested to my son that he join a basketball team at the local recreation center or at his community college. There is no reason that we can't continue with team sports just because we turn 18, is there? Not only will they be happy with their fitness regime, but the social interactions will be great.
My final thought about this transition goes back to the same old idea that those who know me have heard me say forever. We have to set the fitness example to our kids and demonstrate consistency that fitness time is a part of every day. Kids who watch parents that workout daily will follow that example because they understand it to be the norm in life. They won't think it is unusal at all to go to the gym when they have been watching their parents do it every day since birth.
Encouraging our post-high school, early adult children to keep up the habit of health and fitness is one of the best gifts we can give them. Just a few positive words on the topic may help them stay motivated, help avoid the weight gain that often coincides with the early college years, and set them up for a lifetime of great health. But, in order to reach this phase, we have to make sure we haven't skipped any of the steps along the way....in other words, we start health and fitness early and often to ensure that we continue the habits well into our late aduthood.
In Good Health,
Jenn
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