Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 25, 1990 TAG: 9003222294
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETH MACY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
But the neighbors who stared noticed something else: All the kids on the block went over to Graham's driveway to shoot baskets.
"They came to our house because they could succeed there - and that was what they enjoyed," says Graham, a professor of health and physical education at Virginia Tech.
And therein lies the key to getting youngsters interested in physical activity: Children aren't adults, so they shouldn't exercise like adults.
"Kids see absolutely no sense at all in running laps," Graham says. "That's not fun to them. And they don't make the connection that you'll be healthier when you're older if you start running now. They figure you're about ready to die at 35 anyway."
What Graham and many other fitness experts are pushing these days is less competition, more fun and games, and more parental involvement - but not necessarily parents exercising with their kids.
Here's why: Children want to play, stop and rest, and then play some more. Parents don't like exercising in spurts.
Children don't care about boundaries and scores. Parents want to play by the rules.
"The best thing we can do is play with them and get them involved," Graham says. "But when we start teaching them the correct ways to play, they say, `I want to go inside now.' "
How to prevent your child from turning to the television instead of the playground? Fitness experts offer these tips, along with some suggested activities for area youth:
\ Keep it fun. "For a child, it should be things like going to the park and running around with their friends, or joining the soccer team," says Mark Gorski, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist in cycling. "It shouldn't be, `Well today at 4 p.m., we'll do our hour run.' "
Gorski was in Roanoke recently to promote the Rainbo Bread Iron Kids triathlon, which will be held in Roanoke July 7 and 8 at the YMCA of the Roanoke Valley. For children ages 7 to 14, the triathlon will showcase swimming, cycling and running in distances appropriate to the age groups.
Promoting what Gorski calls "lifetime sports," the triathlon focuses on finishing the event, rather than winning; every finisher gets an award. There is a small entry fee.
\ Encourage interest in sports that can last a lifetime - such as cycling, tennis and swimming.
"Swimming is the ultimate cardiovascular exercise," says Cal Johnson, executive director of the YMCA, which offers classes each year to more than 1,000 children ages 6 months and older.
Other Y programs geared specifically to children include track and field, gymnastics, judo, basketball, football and baseball. Children can join the Central YMCA for $40 a year plus class costs. Swimming and exercise programs are also offered free to a limited number of disadvantaged youths; call 343-2476.
Additional youth programs will be offered in June, when the Central Y's renovation is complete. They include a motor skills and movement coordination program for 3- and 4-year-olds, and a parent-child aerobics class.
At the YWCA, swimming and karate classes for youth are offered as well, with costs ranging from $15 to $40; call 345-9922 for information.
\ Be patient with youngsters who don't understand the health benefits of working out regularly. "It takes them a while to catch on," says Regina Ierardi, manager of the LancerLot Family Fitness Club. "But I think teen-agers especially are starting to see this is a better place to be than hanging out in the malls or whatever.
"Most kids don't think exercise makes you feel good," Ierardi adds. "But once they try it and realize it's something fun they can do with their friends, they start to develop a routine."
Targeted to different age groups and fitness levels, youth classes in swimming and aerobics, as well as facilities for racquetball, basketball, volleyball and weight-lifting, are offered at the LancerLot. Family memberships cost $58 a month; call 981-0205.
\ Take advantage of the area's natural beauty. The city of Bedford's Department of Parks and Recreation, for example, offers summer outdoor adventure trips, including ropes courses, rock climbing and hiking, for ages 8 to 16.
Other Bedford youth-fitness opportunities include: a roller skating loop and skateboard pod at Liberty Lake Park, open to the public; free tennis lessons; and a summer play center program, offering free, supervised play weekdays for children. Call 586-7161.
\ Get your child involved in organized fitness activities. That's more important than it was 20 years ago, "because kids don't play on their own like they used to," says Marilyn Montano, program coordinator for the Roanoke Athletic Club.
Classes for youth, ranging from fitness-oriented play to aerobics and racquetball, are offered at the RAC beginning at age 2.
"We've found that a lot of the smaller children have never even played with other children before," Montano says. Memberships for youngsters under 15 at the RAC are sold under family memberships, which cost $75 a month; call 989-5758.
Starting at age 6, opportunities for organized sports abound. And many area leagues emphasize participation, not competition, says Ruth Wilkinson, athletic supervisor for the Roanoke Department of Parks and Recreation.
In the city's youth soccer league, for example, all team players must play at least half a game.
"Of course kids will play and ride bikes, but the organized sports are really what helps pull the child out who wants to stay home and play Nintendo rather than ride bikes," says Sharon McCulley, a Roanoke mother who coaches youth soccer.
"When they're on a team, they know they have practice for two days a week and they accept it and get a little more into being fit."
Both the city and county recreation departments offer team-sport participation for ages 6 to 18 in basketball, soccer, softball, baseball, T-ball, football and cheerleading. To inquire, call 981-2237 in the city; and 344-3742 or 772-2058 in the county. Fees are required for most sports.
Last year, there were 5,870 recreation team positions filled in the city alone, with some children playing on two or more sports teams throughout the year.
"I think you get them started with sports," Wilkinson says. "And as they grow a little bit and age, the fitness aspect needs to be brought out."
Wilkinson also encourages students to play middle-school intramural sports, in which the various schools play each other, creating informal leagues. All children are accepted; there are no cuts or tryouts.
\ Get a doctor's advice. "Parents who think their kids need fitness intervention should start by talking to their child's pediatrician or doctor," advises Charlotte Kidd, home economist with the Roanoke Extension Service.
"Eliminate the physical problems first, and then explore all the options in our area - in the schools, the parks and recreation departments, church teams. A lot of parents assume they get the workouts and the nutrition lessons in school, but there just aren't as many formal programs for kids as there are for adults."
A little-known weight-loss program jointly operated by the city schools and the extension service meets Thursdays after school at Jackson Middle School. The free program covers nutrition, diet and exercise, and is open to all city school students; transportation is not provided.
The extension service also runs a summer camp for overweight youngsters called Camp Lighten Up; call the Extension Service, 857-7915, for information on both programs.
by CNB