The Future of Our Children

Let’s face it, most of our children are sedentary for most of their waking hours; this is especially true when they are at school. There is a huge emphasis on academic achievement in school, but not much on health and wellness of our children. My little girl is only a year and a half old; not even close to going to school yet, but holy smokes I am already starting to worry about the lack of movement she is going to face.

Unfortunately, many movements that we are restricting our children from doing, are the movements they need to do! We SHOULD be encouraging our children to jump off objects, spin around and around in circles, go upside down, climb up things that are high, and balance on beams. These are the movements that are going to challenge our children’s bodies, balance, coordination, and give them better body awareness.

You see, we are born with what is called a “vestibular system.” This system is our “inner ear,” or how we develop our balance. A well trained vestibular system generates good body awareness, attention and emotional regulation. Pretty critical skills for school age children, right!? Our vestibular system needs training, as it will weaken over time if not used.

If, as an adult, you are sitting reading this saying “hey, my balance is terrible!” you NEED to start training your vestibular system. Like muscles, the vestibular system can be strengthened. If as a child, you could go on all of the fun, crazy rides at the fair, but now as an adult they make you sick, it means your “inner ear” is getting weak.

We absolutely need to stop limiting our children’s play. If as a parent you hear yourself saying “get down from there” or “stop spinning” try to refrain and let your child have some unrestricted movement play time. Kids need to be able to move their bodies around the way nature intended.

At Iron Bar Fitness, we truly believe we are facing a societal problem when it comes to how sedentary our children are. This is why we offer CrossFit Kids, CrossFit Teen classes, as well as Mom and Dad classes. Mom and Dad get to work out, and then after, when it is safe, the kids are encouraged to play on the rings, do somersaults and handstands just like their parents.

We have to stop blaming others for our children’s sedentary lives. Get your kids into the gym, get them outside, let them play!