To some, Halloween officially kicks off the holiday season, and along with it the challenge of enjoying yourself while managing to limit your intake (or disbursement) of unhealthy treats. So when it comes to Halloween and the time-honored tradition of doling out candy to ghosts, goblins, and – of course – Frozen Princesses, one question…
Fitness Games for Kids When working with kids, it’s important to engage them with fun and challenging fitness activities. These fitness games for kids, developed by ACE CERTIFIED Personal Trainer Anna Renderer, can help them learn how to improve their functional movement patterns, cardiovascular efficiency and balance, all while having a good time. Arm and…
Spark children’s imaginations while introducing them to the physical practice of yoga along with a few basic breathing techniques. These 6 animal-inspired poses encourage children to get creative by imitating some of their favorite animals, while also empowering them to explore physical activity and the mind-body connection in a fun new way. Lion Begin in…
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the percentage of elementary schools in the U.S. that have daily physical education is 3.6 percent. This represents a direct reflection of America’s attitude toward an educational institution’s role in physical development—school is for the brain; not for the body. Though health problems brought on by inactivity…
Health and fitness technologies, such as apps, activity trackers and websites, are a growing presence in our everyday lives. When used properly, these technologies can be powerful tools for helping people develop better health habits. But do they offer the same benefits for children? Although there will always be some debate surrounding kids and technology,…
Picture you and your friends flying around in laser-powered jet packs through imagination-bending surroundings, acting out your dreams of becoming superheroes. Thanks to video-game technology, you can experience all of this and more in a convincingly realistic way without even leaving your couch. Every day, millions of children are doing just that. Various survey-based research…
Humans have a unique problem. We’re born “too soon.” Consider infants from other species. Most of them come out of the womb (or egg) and can almost immediately function for survival. While they lack some critical skills, they can immediately move around, seek food and perform other survival- based tasks. Human babies are another story….
According to the 2016 United States Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, Americans should be grounded without access to video games, cell phone or TV for at least a month. Not only would this give us time to “think about what we did,” but it might contribute to solving a bigger problem….
Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence is important for motor development and overall health and fitness. Additionally, solid physical activity behaviors in the early years can help to set a foundation for life-long exercise adherence and an appreciation for physical activity. Unfortunately, most kids are not getting enough exercise. In 2016, only 21.6% of…
When it comes to kids and strength training, parents often want to know at what age their children should start lifting weights. Urban legends of stunted growth, fractured growth plates and prematurely inflated physiques have made many parents understandably hesitant when it comes to involving prepubescent kids in resistance-training programs. Tall tales and fear-mongering aside,…