Fitness Guidance Support for Young People:
Encouraging Fitness Interest and Staying Safe
No one wants instagram and tik tok to be our childs greatest or only fitness influence. How young people stay active has changed. What young people get interested in and when has changed too. We are often approached to support young people and their fitness needs in a healthy way. Both for young people with v little current activity or interest where a parent needs to try and introduce more interest in activity and those who already have an abundance and need some personalised support and guidance.
The good news is that ALL kids are full of physical potential . their capacity for agility and athleticism is immense and progresses quickly. The naturally linked benefit to their mental and emotional wellbeing is immense too. It is important to plan the right amount of exercise and rest, recovery as well as plan the right types of activity. A good role model can help the young person focus on the most healthy approach both with how they think about and perform exercise.
Whenever we look after a young person we have a good discussion with the parent first to understand where the young person and family are now and what they want from 1:1 Coaching. We usually set up an initial meet up with parent and young person which often serves primarily to make the young person feel invested in the coaching and feel that it belongs to them. A good PT can be a great role model and the relationship can be very inspiring and confidence building for young people whether they are taking their first steps into more activity and confidence in their own physical abilities and potential or are already athletic and want to focus on their potential.
In that first meeting we can discuss what direction the enthusiasm for training could take. For younger people whose interest is the gym we are often sharing a vision with them of how to achieve their goals with healthy and appropriate methods other than barbells and heavy weights. This can sometimes mean discussing an athlete’s approach to function and performance that does not rely on heavy weight – gymnasts and sports people here serve as good visions for what exercise can be followed. These pathways are healthy for a young body but remains a path to a premium level of outcomes.
Young people’s potential and ability physically is naturally huge from any starting point. In a step by step process of building a healthy relationship with exercise something of life long value can be built. The personal wellbeing available to all people with a good relationship with exercise can transform lives.
Where children are motivated by aesthetics we must develop a healthy vision that avoids any body image pitfalls yet delivers the outcomes and confidence that is desired. A first phone call with a parent can help identify the objectives and the concerns. Then a meet with both parent and young person can put a vision for the young person to become enthusiastic about. We have several trainers on team who have much experience with looking after young people and have transformed many times a young persons relationship with exercise. The journey is different for every young person, the beginning, the pathway and the desired ends – but the fundamental concern that the young person is becoming healthier and happier in safe and expert environment is always the same.
Any trainer at DNPT looking after a younger person will hold an enhanced DBS.