Any reason NOT to get my 9 year old fitbit?

[Anonymous]

Most 10 year olds I know have them. 7 seems young. If your 9 yr old wants one that's awesome. It's great because it keeps them active and makes them accountable. We had a 2 hr dance party today just to get our steps in.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Many good reasons, mostly that you are setting your kid up to join the cultural obsession with weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Many good reasons, mostly that you are setting your kid up to join the cultural obsession with weight.

I tend to agree with this. I developed an eating disorder early on because I wanted control over something in my life and food seemed to be the only avenue. It wasn't even about the weight at the beginning but it definitely lead to an obsession with weight & numbers (tracking calories, writing down everything I ate, weighing myself obsessively, counting the number of steps I took in a day, exercising out everything I ate) that lasted for a long time. No way I would buy my kid a fitbit because of my experience. But I also I recognize my problem wasn't with food, it was the unhealthy way I dealt with the stress (divorcing parents) at the time. Regardless, I'm not taking a chance and enabling any possibility my kids develop and unhealthy/obsessive relationship that could lead to an eating disorder.

[Anonymous]

Nothing wrong with a child understanding how his/her body works and as long as does not become obsessed. It encourages exercise so not a bad thing at all being that we have a nation with far too many overweight children who like to sit in font of games consoles.

[Anonymous]

I would say if they have the money and want to buy it with their own money hey that's good compared to some kids!! Plus that's good the kid is interested in their health and trying to stay healthy! I suggest if their responsible and don't loose everything to let them purchase one! Truly up to you and how you feel with them getting one! Do they get obsessed to stuff easy/fast?

[Anonymous]

Does Fitbit let you register the device for your kid or are all of you lying about your kids' ages when you set it up? I think they won't allow kids under 13 or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, good discussion, thanks!

A couple of things - when I say they are obsessed, right now I mean they want to talk about my steps, and continually insist they want one for themselves.

In general, they are not obsessive kids, so I don't think they'll get too caught up in the numbers, but that is exactly the discussion i was hoping to have here - is there a reason kids this age should not be thinking about numbers when it comes to activity (I'd never count food, obviously, but is activity so bad to measure? The soccer team wants 50 ball touches a day, the gymnastics coach wants 100 second of handstands a day, the kids keep a record of their pogo stick accomplishments, etc, so we're already counting some things). Is there a downside to kids thinking, I should be more active today? I also like with the fitbit that there is a weekly sum, so even on days I might miss my number, what really matters is the weekly total.

I've done a little googling but can't find this info - is there a number that is more of a goal for younger kids? I have no idea, of course, but I would bet money my 7 year old regularly breaks 20K steps (plays soccer ever day at recess, runs around a lot, doesn't sit still much). The 9year old probably not as many, but maybe still 15K. My 9 year old has a stockier build, while 7 year old is simply leaner - could I setting up a bad dynamic between them?

My kids are also "flavor of the week" kids. So I would guess that they'd be entertained by he fitbit for a while, but lose interest. (so, on the con side, another reason not to spend the money). But I could also see it just becoming a background thing for them. But it could also be a fun family competition? Lots to think about.

OP, you just answered your own question -- see what I put into bold above in your post. Fitbits are too expensive to start with, I think, and getting them for kids the age of yours just sounds like a recipe for having unused Fitbits sitting on a shelf in a month or two. Just say no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Fitbit let you register the device for your kid or are all of you lying about your kids' ages when you set it up? I think they won't allow kids under 13 or something like that.

Well just remember Fitbit owns all the info generated and can sell it to however they like.

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old son has a fit bit. He actually struggles with being active, so we have actually found it to be helpful. He tries to move around at recess more. He was totally obsessed with it for one week. I was starting to worry about the obsession. Then it wore off, and one he wears it some days and not others.

He takes pretty good care of it. The biggest risk is that the fascination will wear off quickly

We do talk about how only focusing on steps is not good. And it is not just about what the Fitbit measures, it is about total activity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does Fitbit let you register the device for your kid or are all of you lying about your kids' ages when you set it up? I think they won't allow kids under 13 or something like that.

Lol. You realize they do not actually know the age right? who the heck puts in thier actual birthdate into those things?

[Anonymous]

poop

[Anonymous]

I do not think young kids should have fit bits. It sounds like a bad precursor to obsessions with weight. Of course they should be healthy and play and get exercise, but I do not think a fitbit is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Bad idea. Big data.

[Anonymous]

It so depends on the kid. We have tried to hold off my 9 year old with a cheaper one but he really wants the Fitbit. He looooves racking up his steps. He is normally very active anyway , and sees it (like everything else) as a competition (mostly with himself). This is a kid who plays competitive soccer and rec baseball and is always moving... But now, on a non sports day, he'll see he hasn't done much and get up and go for a walk or something. He is in no way, nor can I ever see him being obsessed with his weight and is just really interested in fitness. I am getting him a 2nd hand flex. I'd rather him be obsessed with his steps than his minecraft game

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like that they are emitting radiation all the time. I am not a crazy person or anything, but to have something on my body 24 hours a day that emits radiation is just something I'm not comfortable with especially for my kids. I agree with someone else who said to get a pedometer.

+1 million