physical activity for non-sporty kids

[Anonymous]

When my teen was younger he didn’t like organized sports but would ride his bike, ride scooter, have fun at playgrounds. Now the teen years have hit he’s stopped doing these things. He’s a skinny kid but we want him to be healthier as he gets out of breathe too easy and has no muscle. All of his activities are lots of sitting like robotics, reading, D&D, and piano. How do you make teens get physical activity who don’t want to? The rest of our family is really athletic, I try to be understanding that he has his own interests but worried about his health.

[Anonymous]

Maybe he would like rock climbing? Are there any indoor climbing wall places near you?

[Anonymous]

I made my 12 yo do track at school and he also was interested in wrestling so he did that. It’s not super competitive so it’s fine.
He is also lacking muscle and gets out of breath easily. He isn’t interested that much but his other choices are worse lol.
And he wants to be “buff and tough” eventually so there’s that

[Anonymous]

I just flat out told my kids to find something to do for their bodies or I'd find something for them. One took up indoor rock climbing, one took up yoga.

[Anonymous]

With the exception of the playground, why did he stop? Weren't his friends around anymore? If he's a young teen, sorry kid, go outside and be a kid. A little older I'm sure hat there's a nin intense physical activity he might like.

[Anonymous]

My kid who HATES team sports enjoys swimming. It is a solo sport on a team. He also goes to the gym with DH a few times a week.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't into sports as a teen but I had a gym membership and would go with my dad a few nights a week. Did some cardio and strength exercises.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't into sports as a teen but I had a gym membership and would go with my dad a few nights a week. Did some cardio and strength exercises.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of the playground, why did he stop? Weren't his friends around anymore? If he's a young teen, sorry kid, go outside and be a kid. A little older I'm sure hat there's a nin intense physical activity he might like.

Not the OP, but I can relate. Friends shift in middle school. The sporty boys stay active and the others drift to more sedentary activities. Sure, you can tell them to go outside, but if they don’t have others to hang with out there (mine doesn’t), they don’t want to. Becomes a power struggle and the lure of the screens and the games is strong. It’s hard, a constant source of worry for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of the playground, why did he stop? Weren't his friends around anymore? If he's a young teen, sorry kid, go outside and be a kid. A little older I'm sure hat there's a nin intense physical activity he might like.

Not the OP, but I can relate. Friends shift in middle school. The sporty boys stay active and the others drift to more sedentary activities. Sure, you can tell them to go outside, but if they don’t have others to hang with out there (mine doesn’t), they don’t want to. Becomes a power struggle and the lure of the screens and the games is strong. It’s hard, a constant source of worry for me.

Yeah, middle schoolers and middle school in general is an odd thing sometimes, and like you said the lure if screens doesn't help.

[Anonymous]

Running, climbing, and rowing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the exception of the playground, why did he stop? Weren't his friends around anymore? If he's a young teen, sorry kid, go outside and be a kid. A little older I'm sure hat there's a nin intense physical activity he might like.

Not the OP, but I can relate. Friends shift in middle school. The sporty boys stay active and the others drift to more sedentary activities. Sure, you can tell them to go outside, but if they don’t have others to hang with out there (mine doesn’t), they don’t want to. Becomes a power struggle and the lure of the screens and the games is strong. It’s hard, a constant source of worry for me.

Yeah, middle schoolers and middle school in general is an odd thing sometimes, and like you said the lure if screens doesn't help.

Yeah, OP here. Of course he’d love to be on screens but we are pretty strict about that, which is why he reads so much. Once in a while he’ll ride his bike to get ice cream with a friend but he won’t ride for “no purpose” anymore and he won’t ride with Dad who mountain bikes and always asks him to join. Honestly he is just lazy and doesn’t seem to enjoy physical exertion anymore like when he was little. It’s super frustrating.

He likes climbing okay but it’s really expensive for a kid who is “meh” about it. During Covid I used to make him run a mile with me to earn screen time. But now he’s back at school with at least PE. He swims in the summer for fun but doesn’t want to be on the team.

[Anonymous]

Same boat, OP. I make mine do swimming and tennis lessons once a week.

[Anonymous]

Maybe marital arts?

[Anonymous]

We're dealing with this too. I've been pushing walks, going to the gym for weights, etc. It's a struggle but he's gone from hating walks to them being "okay."