Personal Trainers for Kids

This article is evidence that  Children’s Sports is in a new era.Love it Hate it. It’s here to stay.it is our responsibility as parents to get on board with the process of children’s sports so we can make the best informed decisions for our children.

TrackMom

 Personal trainers for kids
By: Ivanhoe Newswire
Time to train Nearly a million American youngsters, some as young as six years old, rely on personal trainers to shape up, lose weight or improve in sports.

CHICAGO, Ill. — Some 30 percent of kids age six to 19 are overweight and 15 percent are obese. That’s not surprising since more and more schools are dropping phys-ed and the latest numbers show 70 percent of children in organized sports drop out by age 13.
So how do you keep your kids active? More and parents are turning to personal trainers to get their kids in shape.
Margaret Junker is a high school tennis player, who says twice-weekly personal training changed her game.
“My arms have gotten stronger, my serve has gotten a lot stronger,” Junker said.
Almost a million kids ages six to 17 have personal trainers. Some cite cutbacks in physical education. Other say it’s needed to keep up in sports.
“They’re trying to keep their kids up to par with the rest of the group,” personal trainer Brandon Jackson said.
And if your child doesn’t like sports, is self conscious, or has some health issues — a trainer may be the answer. But a trainer who works with adults may not be your best option.
Not every trainer is right for kids and teens that still have developing bodies. Make sure your trainer holds a degree or is nationally recognized by the NSCA or ACSM … they have experience training children, show patience, create fun sessions, and help the child find exercises they are interested in. Also be sure to talk to other parents who use your trainer. Be sure to attend the first one or two sessions.
“You do want to be careful who you’re training with. Make sure they’re capable and trained in working with children especially the 13 or 14 year old kids who may not be mature from a skeletal standpoint,” Heidi Sallee, M.D., pediatrician at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis said.
Junker says personal training has helped her prevent injuries. “Now I can go off to college and be in the gym by myself and actually know which muscle groups to work,” she said.
Training can improve motor skills, speed and coordination. Your child should meet with a trainer once or twice a week for four months to help develop a life-long habit of exercise.
Research:A BOOMING INDUSTRY: Nearly a million American youngsters, some as young as six years old, rely on personal trainers to shape up, lose weight or improve in sports. Kids between the ages of six and 17 account for 13 percent of all Americans using personal trainers. Many parents say trainers motivate kids to work out harder and help them build skill and confidence. That, paired with the possibility of college scholarships or professional sports status down the road, convinces many parents to shell out the $40 to $60 an hour trainers generally charge.
BATTLING OBESITY: With more and more school districts cutting physical education from the curriculum and today’s teens tipping the scales as the most overweight generation to date, personal trainers could help some kids lose weight and keep it off. Incorporating fitness early into a child’s life can help keep them fit for life. Then when they leave home for college or work, they can stay active — and trim — on their own.
WHO NEEDS A TRAINER? Not all kids need to turn to a personal trainer. Experts say a trainer could be right for your child if he or she:

• Doesn’t like organized sports
• Is self-conscious playing sports or trying new activities
• Has some health issues and you prefer supervised exercise sessions
• Expresses interest in personal training

LOOK OUT: Not every trainer is right for kids and teens that still have developing bodies. Make sure you talk to them about this issue. Sessions should be fun, so find a trainer that works with kids and creates fun workout plans. Try to get references from other parents and kid-clients, too.

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