A child must be assessed well before being introduced to any new physical activity. As in learning there is a right time to teach specific thing depending on the readiness of the child’s body and mind. A child’s nervous system and muscular development must be taken into consideration when choosing a fitness activity for children. Just like in learning to walk, the first steps happen on the terms of the child’s body and can’t be forced to happen.
Rule 2: The Rule of Uniqueness
A child’s physical and mental progress must not be compared with other children’s progress. Remember that each child is unique and no two children are exactly alike. Even a twin’s body development may vary because of slight physical and chemical differences. Twins or not, children develop physically and mentally at different rates and this may reflect on their compliance of the requirements of fitness activities. So don’t compare your child’s skills with the skills of your neighbor’s kids instead concentrate on his or her development and improvement. Rule 3: The Rule of Exercise
Constant correct practice is the key to perfection. In training a child’s skills remember to begin with simple skills. A child’s inexperience and lack of patience may lead him or her to skip the basics if he or she is left on his or her own to learn. This may lead to frustration and possibly the habit of giving up easily. A child must first learn to walk before he could run. Guide the child to learn and master simple and more basic skills first before introducing him or her to more complex skills. This will lead to constant successes and slowly but surely to growing self confidence.
Rule 4: The Rule of Enjoyment
Practice and scheduled routines make most children bored. Involve games, goals and rewards while learning and practicing skills to make the experience more enjoyable. This is why sports are best introduced while a person is young. It teaches the child to be goal oriented and disciplined. Memories of fun fitness activities in youth give the child a more positive mindset towards working out and staying fit in adolescence and adulthood. As the child grows, gradually replace the positive reinforce (rewards) with the knowledge of principles of good health and self improvement that he or she will carry on through life. Rule 5: Rule of Underdeveloped Systems
While training or playing sports with a child, remember that no matter how active a child is, his or her organ systems that may be important in conditioning (like the muscular, respiratory, cardiovascular, and skeletal system), are still developing. This is particularly true with children 10 years and below. As children, their bodies are dividing energy supply between growth and development and daily activities. They require more sleep than an adult and do not have the endurance for long hard runs or swims. So don’t expect a child to keep up with you when running around the track. As they grow older progression should be gradual.
Rule 6: Rule of Imitation
Most children learn by imitation. Encourage group playing especially with slightly older kids. They are more likely to learn skills this way from children 2 to 3 years older than they are. As this happens, your role as a parent or guardian is to guide his learning by making sure that he or she learns correct principles together with skills.
Rule 7: The Rule of Holistic Development
Understand that physical development is only a part of a child’s total personal development. Equal emphasis and time must be given to his or her emotional, social and spiritual development. The child must also understand this so that as he or she moves into adolescence, he or she will also pursue holistic improvement.
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