Small Wonders

IF YOU’RE CONCERNED YOUR KIDS ARE TURNING INTO SCREEN SLOTHS, THEN ATTENDING A GYM MIGHT INSPIRE THEM TO GET A WIGGLE ON

- Monique Mckenzie

Back in the day, telling kids to go play outside was a piece of cake. In no time they’d be climbing trees, throwing a ball around, playing hopscotch, or engaging in the rough-and-tumble. Today, however, chances are they’re more likely to be glued to their screens on the sofa than out in the sunshine.

We all know the importance of getting young people moving and as we become more health and wellbeing-conscious, we’re turning our attention towards the need to educate the younger generation on better lifestyle choices. In a bid to show little ones the importance of being active, many gyms have started classes that specifically cater to children, with the likes of HIIT training and cardio sessions available for kids.

A healthy trend

Some of the biggest names in fitness are getting on board with this growing trend, such as Les Mills. The fitness company’s Born to Move classes for young people, aged two to 16, are all about inspiring kids to fall in love with physical activity. The program gets littlies performing carefully devised moves suited to their developmental stage, along with fun music and easy-to-follow instructions. It is currently being rolled out in schools and childcare centers.