Child to Champion Athlete - Giving Kids the Right Start

When it comes to children and fitness, there are two main trends in developed countries. A growing number of children tend to be less active and more obese. At the other end of the continuum, there is also a trend to physically train young sport participants at younger and younger ages.

From a fitness and health perspective, we do have an epidemic on our hands. Many obese children as young as 8-10 years old possess symptoms of heart disease and diabetes, raising a red flag that cries out for strong national intervention strategies. In fact, if this trend continues unabated, the children of today may be the first generation in history to have a shortened life expectancy and die before their parents.

The childhood obesity epidemic has been linked to calorie-dense fast foods and nutrient-lean packaged super market food, concurrent with an increased proliferation of sedentary activities. Thanks to the help of adults, technology and profit-driven business, kids are now consumers of passive entertainment, often at the expense of spontaneous play and physical activity.

For kids who are active, there is a trend towards early sport specialization, which accelerates short term competence in one sport’s specific skill sets, yet may rob them of a solid base of well rounded athleticism.

Defining fun and inspiring methods to explore fundamental movement skills may help reverse the trend of inactivity and obesity and provide young aspiring athletes with a better toolbox of overall athleticism. Teaching all children how to move with greater coordination and competence increases their self-esteem, making them more confident and comfortable joining new activities. Children with increased movement capabilities enjoy greater self-efficacy and a sense that “I can do it”! This can lead to increased participation and help keep them in the game.

The Twist Team!