Do Your Children Require a Personal Trainer for Exercise?

As adults, we often turn to a personal trainer to help us get into a healthy routine of diet and exercise.  As parents, we also struggle to provide what we think is best for our children.  When it comes to exercise, is providing our children with a personal trainer necessary?  Today, we will look at both sides of this modern issue.

For some parents, a personal trainer for the kids can be a great idea – if you can afford one.  Just a few hours a week can be enough to show your child the first step toward exercise, so you can then step in and take the lead on the days the trainer isn’t available.

One of the main benefits of a personal trainer is mainly psychological.  If your children would rather watch television or play video games than go outside, then convincing them to get more exercise can be difficult.  They may naturally resist your efforts as they know you and have learned over the years how to get their own way.  However, a trainer is a new person and they may follow their commands, particularly if the trainer is someone who is obviously not going to take ‘no’ for an answer!  A trainer in this instance would be more like a personal teacher who teaches your child one-to-one out of school.  

If your child is becoming overweight, then you’ll know that overweight children experience a number of health problems, and finding ways to get them to exercise is crucial.  A personal trainer may be able to help your child find fun ways to exercise, and can provide encouragement and motivation, especially if the trainer is in great shape themselves or they are particularly skilled in a sport your child loves and admires.  In this case, the trainer would become a role model for your child.

If, on the other hand, your children are naturally outgoing and athletic, a personal trainer can be an unnecessary expense.  Many kids find that they love to go outside and play basketball, run around with the dog, or just expel energy.  These are certainly very viable forms of exercise, even if your child thinks of them only as games.  Try to make sure they go outside and play at least once a day.

Learning how to understand your child’s exercise habits is the best way to determine if a personal trainer is necessary.  The decision is entirely personal, but if you feel your child is at risk of obesity or leading a sedentary lifestyle, encouraging greater activity is certainly very important.