How do you interest pre-teens in exercise without damaging their self-esteem?

Question

It is my son 10, and daughter 9, they both are content w/ tv or video games when I was their age I was always active so I'm having a hard time connecting. I am still very active and hopefull that they will see the example, but I don't want to seem too pushy because I don't want them to go the other way and be even more lathargic

Answer 1

The emphasis can NOT be on weight loss. It is only the pressure or the idea that one needs to lose weight in order to be a better person or more attractive or desireable that impacts self-esteem. Focusing on health, however, is not limiting self esteem, but in fact can boost it because the more healthy you are, the better that you feel. The best way to make it interest to pre-teens is to make it fun, such as swimming or bike riding, or playing a sport. Also, it has to be something that the whole family is involved with. One of the worst things is to put one child on a special routine or diet, as this will make them feel like they've done something wrong and automatically isolate them. But rather, if you make it a family thing to exercise and have a healthier lifestyle, then they will associate exercise as being a group activity and something that everyone can do together.

Answer 2

First off interest them in the fun aspects. Going to the gym is not fun. Not walking or biking. However, kayaking is. Also, I went white water rafting with my boyfriend several times each summer. Water skiing and jetskiing help find muscles you didn't know you had. I rollerbladed the whole neighborhood. Snow skiing in the winter. Don't drive them. They want to go to a friends house after school, they bike over there. I used to bike miles each day just to get to a friends house so that we could then go swimming. I also did volleyball camp over the summer. It was a great opportunity to meet people. Many activities are fun for pre-teens, so try to find their interests and appeal to that.

Meeting people on team sports is also fun. Team soccer, baseball, tennis, swimming-- whatever they are good at. In the summer I used to work really hard so that I could make the team in high school. Find whatever they are good at. If they aren't that good at tennis, try soccer. or swimming. Find something they are very good at and encourage them to excell in that.

In high school, being part of a team is very important. It builds confidence which helps them resist drugs/alcohol, get the interest of the opposite sex, and maintain excellent grades. My tennis team was very competitive with grades. The team average was a 3.8 (and I was always the one bringing that average down but hey!) A team gives you a sense of comraderie as well as giving them something to do after school instead of sitting in front of the computer. Also, team sports encourage good sportsmanship, focus and decipline.

Exercise and being part of a team should help improve their self-esteem, not harm it. It should not be about weight at all. In fact, that shouldn't be mentioned. The fun and enjoyment of an activity, the accomplishment, the teamwork, the confidence, the friends should all be focal points--all very important to teenagers.

Answer 3

during puberty many children have incidents where they become larthogenic, while in most cases this doesn't go to the extreme of mimicking a form of so called mental illness. this does however cause them to show decreased interest in sports and physical activities. i would suggest looking into a youth program, however if this want to not physically exert himself becomes to pronounced and with weight increase i would look into an endrocrene system disorder.

Answer 4

Get in a game of one on one bball with them or kick soccer ball around yard, or both of you go for a walk good time to talk to each other and communicate.

Answer 5

Start walking with them and then maybe do a class or something together. If they see that you exercise then it will become a part of there daily life as well.

Answer 6

Let them choose a sport, or have friends over to do activities together.

Answer 7

hey, its simple: exercise is a daily neccessity in all human beings and its HEALTHY.
its not like ur telling them that they're fat, ur just trying to help those pre teens right? teach them like how a health teacher would teach them about exercises!

Answer 8

Boy or girl?

Sign them up for swimming classes, little league, soccer,cheerleading etc etc.

Answer 9

get them into sports like running track and soccer..

Answer 10

Tell them you need their help for you to get into shape.