Is your sporty tween boy staying in shape?

[Anonymous]

If your tween boy is usually on sports teams but can't play this year due to the pandemic, what are they doing to stay in shape?

Ds has been running just half a mil (I know he could do more bit he's unmotivated) and practicing dribbling, etc but he has gained a ton of weight and he finally mentioned it to me.

His diet is OK but could be better. I'm mostly concerned with his physical fitness since he will probably lose what he gained when sports start up. Is he too young for boot camp type training?

[Anonymous]

Sorry lady. I didn't abandon my kids health in the last year. My kids are playing sports like most kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry lady. I didn't abandon my kids health in the last year. My kids are playing sports like most kids.

That wasn't very helpful miss sour pants.

[Anonymous]

14 yo sport boy. In early days of the pandemic he and his friends were doing a lot of remote work outs “together, ” Basically down in our basement using small free weights. Over time we figured out more safe outdoor stuff - biking in woods, small group pickup sports etc, (lots of pond hockey in winter and now lacrosse .) We live in a pretty low incidence area so ability to do this may be different. But there’s no way sending him out for a jog would have been successful.

[Anonymous]

Sports have been going on all this time. My tween boys have been busy with their sports since last fall. You don't have to wait for the sports to start, you are making a choice to not allow your son to participate. Own it.

[Anonymous]

You can’t outrun the fork.

Diet is most of why people gain weight, not exercise.

Also, it’s normal for teens in the east part of puberty to gain weight, especially prior to a growth spurt.

We’re about to open up with activities again, but I would start watching your whole family’s diet, and cut back on the sugary snacks available to him at home.

[Anonymous]

What do you mean he finally mentioned his weight to you? Did you not notice that he gained weight or was it the first time you talked about it together.

The main thing is not to shame him. He’s still growing. That said, your diet and eating habits are very important, and if you’re concerned about someone’s weight in the family, it’s time for the whole family to start eating healthier.

[Anonymous]

Stop feeding him junk. At that age he is still dependent on his parents for what he is able to eat (you buy the food). So what exactly are you buying?

Hire him a basketball coach for some one on one training, and have that coach give him homework that he has to record himself doing and send to the coach. That way he is training on noncoaching days.

Organize scrimmages for him with other parents/kids.

Join the St James teams.

We did all of these for our kids. It worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sports have been going on all this time. My tween boys have been busy with their sports since last fall. You don't have to wait for the sports to start, you are making a choice to not allow your son to participate. Own it.

You don’t know anything about this family’s circumstances, and the issue here is not assigning blame for the loss of fitness but dealing with it.

[Anonymous]

My tween has been in sports all year and he still has gained some weight. You don't know what would have occurred naturally absent COVID. Also, he's been in the hybrid schedule all year so he has more access to snacking than more. It's been a tough year. Reset this summer. Don't avoid the sports.

[Anonymous]

My son just joined a lacrosse team -- first organized sport he's played in 18 months. Thank goodness.

But in the mean time, he hikes, bikes, or walks with me a couple of times a day. We have not, however, been doing much in the sports area -- we just started throwing a lacrosse ball around. The basketball hoops around here were taken down for the longest time, so we couldn't do that.

He surfed last summer and he skied a lot this winter.

I have spent a lot of the pandemic teaching him how to cook. So he is learning not only to eat healthfully but prep it himself.

[Anonymous]

My 15 year old is also doing sports (soccer club and at school). But, during the shut-down last spring, we jogged together and hiked together and he plays basketball with his father (I occasionally rebound for him). I also tried to get him to do weight lifting videos with me. Regarding the latter, I noticed that he had no idea how to use proper form for basic moves. Unsurprisingly, he was not interested in being taught by his parents. So, I retained a trainer that worked with him outside. It has been great. He enjoyed having another adult to talk with and the added structure to his time was welcome.

[Anonymous]

God, it has been such a relief to have an excuse to get off of the sports arms race in this area. My sons are biking for fun and running around the neighborhood with friends. And I definitely disagree with posters saying that not playing organized sports makes you fat (?!). My kids are as slim as ever but are happier and getting more fresh air than a year ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry lady. I didn't abandon my kids health in the last year. My kids are playing sports like most kids.

How unkind. I can’t imagine responding to a stranger like that. You must be a deeply, deeply unhappy person.

OP, this poster’s response has nothing to do with you. It’s been a tough year. You’re doing great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry lady. I didn't abandon my kids health in the last year. My kids are playing sports like most kids.

Wow. Mom of athlete who plays outdoor sport here. You are the epitome of why youth sports parents are despised. You’re the kid that would make a kid play through a concussion. Sick.