physical activity for non-sporty kids

[Anonymous]

Guess Pokémon Go is pretty much over now? That’s great exercise for the gaming crowd!

Hiking or trail walking could be paired with something more intellectual like plant identification or birding. My non-sporty, fairly nerdy DD enjoys walking on the creek trail near our house and hunting for mushrooms. Lots of apps to help ID plants, mushrooms, animal tracks, bird songs, etc.

Or what about geocaching?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is what I've told my kids. Right now they are into tumbling, parkour, and swimming. My cousin's kid took up distance running. There are lots of great options for kids that aren't into team/group sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

I have an 8th grader like this. He would choose to read and play cards when given the option. That said he's currently swimming and playing baseball so I haven't had to press it. One winter - when he had no activities - I said it's fine to have no formal activities but what is your plan to get some activity? He ended up signing up to play rec basketball.

Some other things my kid likes: skiing - could be a winter sport option, kayaking, I have offered hiking - sometimes he does.

At any rate my approach has been you don't have join a team but how are you going to get exercise if not? And it could something we do together like hiking or biking or kayaking. I would take ultimate frisbee if he wanted to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Guess Pokémon Go is pretty much over now? That’s great exercise for the gaming crowd!

Hiking or trail walking could be paired with something more intellectual like plant identification or birding. My non-sporty, fairly nerdy DD enjoys walking on the creek trail near our house and hunting for mushrooms. Lots of apps to help ID plants, mushrooms, animal tracks, bird songs, etc.

Or what about geocaching?

OP here, thanks and yeah, this is how we got thru ages 9-12 with him- Pokémon Go and geocaching. I guess he’s tired of both.

He actually is a very good skier and enjoys it but we only can go on 1-2 ski trips a year.

Thanks for everyone’s suggestions, most helpful hearing from others with these sedentary kids. We obviously tried every sport/activity under the sun from ages 5-10.

[Anonymous]

I get through my running / walking by listening to podcasts or audiobooks. My DD liked the Zombies Run app.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP I have a 13 yo like this, also skinny. He has gotten into climbing in the last year but I agree it's expensive if your son is meh about it. Mine also LOVES calisthenics these days. I know you say you have home gym equipment, but we recently set up a pull-up bar in our kid's room and he has done extensive research on calisthenic routines and devised his own. He is all into pushups, pullups, resistance band exercises, etc. I am not sure if your son would enjoy any of this. I do think it helps our kid that what he needs is in his room, it's so easy to access. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Weight lifting? Maybe now that he's older he'd prefer a mountain bike. My son is an athlete, and he also really enjoys yoga. I've seen battle ropes everywhere including TJ Maxx, maybe he'd like to try working out with those. Get a pull-up bar he can use in his door way.

[Anonymous]

My kid is like this. He's 18 now; only thing I can get him to do (and he does on his own) is long walks/hikes. I tried for years. He's off to college; hoping he finds something there.