Kids & Teens
Bad News About Backpacks
In 2013, injuries related to backpack use affected at least 14,000 children, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The school year may have started already, but it’s not too late to teach kids how to wear backpacks properly and reduce injury risk.
Follow these recommendations from the American Chiropractic Association:
Weight Perceptions Among U.K. Teenagers
Experts often say that the first step in overcoming a problem is to recognize that you have one. Researchers from the Health Behaviour Research Centre at University College London raise concerns that some teenagers may not realize they are overweight. The report, published in the International Journal of Obesity (2015; doi: 10.1038/ijo.2015.126), focuses on the self-re- ported weight perceptions of 4,979 boys and girls aged 13–15.
Frightening Youth Fitness Statistics
Researchers from the University of Essex in the U.K. have some troubling news to report: Fitness levels among U.K. schoolchildren are declining at a faster rate than ever. A 2009 study found a drop in fitness levels of about 0.8% over the original study 10 years earlier,
in 1998. Between 2009 and 2014, just 6 years later, that drop rate increased to 0.95%.
Physical Literacy for Kids
Health and fitness professionals are important players in a nationwide movement to promote and support physical literacy, which in turn will help to set the stage for a healthier, more active, more productive generation of children
hey’re doing either too little or too much.
For U.S. youth, that’s the stark paradox of physical activity. While
more than half of adolescents fail to accumulate the recommended 60
minutes of exercise at least 5 days per week (CDC 2015), many young
athletes are becoming specialized too early in life, which fosters a
culture of elite sports that discourages broad participation.
Eight Key Elements in Quality Youth Development
If you want to coach youth to reach their sports training goals, consider these eight keys to quality youth development, created by educators at the University of Minnesota Extension:
HELP YOUTH FEEL PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY SAFE.
Trainer’s tip: Set boundaries and expectations with both the clients and their parents early on. Be a good role model and create a safe environment.
Health Disparities Influenced by ZIP Code
Did you know that where you live may be more important than your family tree in predicting health disparities and health longevity?
Kids With Stronger Muscles Develop Better Bones
Osteoporosis is a significant concern for the aging population. A new study suggests the risk can be offset by development of lean muscle in childhood.
Buddies Help Boost Activity Levels
Researchers from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center may have a solution for inactivity among kids: Pair an inactive child with an active buddy.
From the Couch to Conditioning
Youth are flocking to fitness classes as parents face concerns over inactivity, obesity, sports injuries and performance. Instructors are learning to cater to the vast needs of this market, and it can be difficult to create a safe environment where all children can participate, get results and have a good time. While challenges will always exist in group classes, some simple strategies, particularly during the first few minutes, can turn frustration into fun.
Engagement and Physical Literacy
Mind-Body Activities for Children
Today’s fast-paced, digital world pressures children to grow up fast. Instead of running around grassy playgrounds, most of them live highly structured lives, shuttling from one organized activity to the next, often while playing with hyper-stimulating devices. For school-age children, homework, peer pressure, teasing, poor grades, bullying, parental demands and isolation can all trigger stress (White
Kids in Motion Are Happy Kids
Kathleen Tullie, director of social purpose at Reebok International, is the cofounder and executive director of BOKS (Build Our Kids’ Success). The physical activity program aims to jump-start children’s brains, improving academic performance and overall health by promoting exercise and nutrition knowledge. The program is run by moms, dads, teachers and volunteers, 2–3 days a week before or during school.
Youth Sports Training
Did you know that throughout the United States there are currently more than 35 million active athletes aged 5–18 competing in youth sports (Statistic Brain 2014)? That means there is a growing opportunity for personal trainers to offer services in a new way.
Help Parents Help Kids Get Healthy
We know that the right home environment can lay a strong foundation for health and fitness. Help your clients improve their kids’ health with these suggestions from IDEA member Jennifer Salter, director of Lifeline Personal Training in Toronto:
Gym Helps Kids Across the Spectrum
Sometimes the best ideas are born of necessity. Dina Kimmel, a mother of two, experienced difficulty finding ways to support her autistic son’s development, so she took on the challenge herself and created a “sensory gym” in her home. After seeing her son’s success with it, Kimmel decided that this type of setting should be available to others, and she opened the first We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym® for All Kids in Tarzana, California.
Fit Kids and Better Language Skills
Evidence is mounting that fit kids perform better than their unfit peers on a variety of learning tasks.
In a study conducted recently at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, researchers evaluated children as they performed reading and language comprehension exercises while wearing electrode caps. Fitness levels varied among the children, and these devices allowed the scientists to evaluate brain activity.
Kids: Go Take a Hike!
Do your kids fall short of achieving the recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise? Though the weather may be turning cold (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere), researchers suggest that sending children outside to play may boost weekly activity levels. Just make sure you keep kids bundled up!
Forget the Fries: Kids Say Fruits or Veggies Fine as Restaurant Sides
What if kids would eat more fruits and vegetables (FV) as sides on restaurant menus, but restaurants were simply failing to give them the option? A study that asked kids about it suggests this could well be the case.
Fitness Professionals Can Take A Leading Charge In The Fight Against Childhood Obesity
In observance of Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, IDEA has compiled a list of our most relevant articles. Learn how different components of daily life can effect children’s obesity risk, how to fight obesity and how to create effective programming for children.
Help Your Children Build Healthy Eating Habits
August marks the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ first-ever Kids Eat Right Month. In order to support AND’s focus on the importance of healthful eating and active lifestyles for children and their families, IDEA has assembled a list of our most popular articles on kids’ nutrition. Learn how to get your children involved in their diets, how to help kids meet their nutrient requirements and how to build healthy lifestyle habits for the whole family.
Helping Kids Eat Healthfully
