OP here. Really frustrating. I think we will likely bag the gym membership and have a membership tp the county rec center system. She can swim laps on her own and I can either swim laps or work out in the exercise room.

Anonymous wrote:I believe that Lifetime allows children to start using equipment and attending classes at 12.

Lifetime is 14 except on weekends (though the weekend exception is not posted and some snarky folks will whine) And the kids programs end at 11. We're about to face the same problem ad the OP.......

I think the age at Golds is 12, and the Merrifield branch of Golds is decent. There's no pool, though.

I believe that Lifetime allows children to start using equipment and attending classes at 12.

We're using a YMCA in Alexandria for 16 year old to swim laps and use equipment. I don't know their overall policy but it certainly is reasonably priced.

My gym in Bethesda allows this. Parents keep a watchful eye on them however to make sure they aren't "equipment squatting". Doesn't bother me a bit. I think its terrific to expose kids to gym workouts as early in life as possible.

Does anyone know of a gym in the Fairfax City Area that allows kids to use the gym equipment as a part of a family membership? Child is 12. When we joined our current gym (which I hate) the sales pitch included our kids being able to use the cardio equipment, swim laps, and attend some fitness classes at age 12. Now that child is 12, we are told that the age for a child to use the facilities is 14. Too old for the gym daycare. Too young for a membership. Totally willing to dump the current gym for a more family friendly policy. Need proximity to Fairfax City -- none of us are going to drive to Reston to use the YMCA for example. Has to be close to home or it won't work for us. Any thoughts, DCUM.