physical activity for non-sporty kids

[Anonymous]

I took kickboxing with my 13 year old. It was a great way to take out aggression and get in exercise.

[Anonymous]

Just want to second rock climbing. movement has great teams or he can go on his own

[Anonymous]

Running and the gym multiple times a week. People will suggest rock climbing or fencing or martial arts, but none of those are intense enough to help a teen boy put on muscle and gain stamina.

[Anonymous]

Realize not everyone approves, but skateboarding?

They just upgraded the park at Wakefield Rec Center, and there are always kids there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

At least he swims in the summer for fun, that's not nothing. And I actually think it's good that it's just for fun. Kids around this age are weird, it's like one day they wake up forget how to have fun.

[Anonymous]

CrossFit for teens.

Running club.

[Anonymous]

I am not coordinated but I love biking.

[Anonymous]

My kid is kind of similar. He joined Ultimate Frisbee for a couple of seasons. And then joined Wrestling. They do weight training which is good.

Another idea is to have him do the gym. Planet Fitness often does a free summer membership for teens.

How about hiking? Can you do family hikes where there is a destination at the end?

A more "in the background idea" is to have him walk or bike to school, park far away from stores so he does more walking, have him run errands for you that he has to walk or bike to, etc.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realize not everyone approves, but skateboarding?

They just upgraded the park at Wakefield Rec Center, and there are always kids there.

There is a large skatepark at Lake Fairfax and it’s always busy.

But lots is weed smell, and no one will wear a helmet there.

[Anonymous]

Martial arts? A neighbor does fencing which is unique and cool. Bicycling on a trail?

[Anonymous]

Gym membership and sessions with a personal trainer.

[Anonymous]

My nephew like that rows and skateboards (but isn’t super into the skate scene). When I was a kid my parents told me I needed to either chose a sport or go to the gym. By late high school I was going to the gym a couple times a week (and wasn’t very fit), which eventually translated into me getting really active in college and fit as a young adult. I’d make him chose something active he’ll do regularly over the summer.

[Anonymous]

My son goes on long walks and hikes with DH and/or me with our dogs. He also does basics at home: push-ups, planks, sit-ups, jumping jacks, etc. I remind him to do this every other day. If he doesn’t use his body, he’s moody.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I appreciate the gym suggestions, however we have at home an elliptical machine, stationery bike, fitness trampoline, and many weights. When he’s super sedentary on the weekends we do force him to use this stuff.

I guess with high school approaching, I just would like to know what other parents are doing with kids like this, should I force him to do cross country? My husband and I exercise for fun so it feels bad to force this one child of ours. I am hoping his high school has ultimate frisbee bc he did take a liking to that in PE this year.

[Anonymous]

What's his reasoning? He hates being outside? He hates getting sweaty? Too shy or intimidated by team sports?

Fwiw, my kids are in a youth bowling league. Individual yet a team at the same time. They have learned a lot too.