Kids, Movement, Mood — and You

By Adele G. Michaelides, MA

It’s winter, it’s New England, it’s cold and, yes, it’s hard to get motivated to even consider getting out to exercise – that’s something you’ll surely think about doing – tomorrow or next week, perhaps. If you are one of those adults planning to ponder exercising, remember that we model what “fitness” means to children and adolescents. More specifically, the statistics tell us that kids with active parents and guardians are six times more likely to be active than those children who have sedentary parents.

Kids need activity and movement, big time. But, there are lots of temptations today that keep young people inactive: the constant temptation of going online, video games, and TV couch vegging, with hundreds of channels, to compete with.

But, there’s a lot more to it than just burning up calories and having tight abs – that’s all nice, yet a big part of the picture is what we’ve all been hearing about for years: physical exercise really does have significant antidepressant effects. According to a late 90’s study, begin to show from the very first exercise session and last beyond when an exercise program ends. The myriad of recent studies remind us that increased activity helps boost a more positive mood, aids in restoring restful sleep and increases self-esteem and confidence.

The National Association for Sports and Physical Education has told us that school age children need 60 minutes or more of physical activity per day. Further, with the serious concerns over statistics in childhood obesity, they suggest kids avoid periods of inactivity of 2 hours or more.

A 2007 article in USA Today, entitled “Exercise Builds Strong Brains, Too,” gives us insight regarding healthy brain function. Specifically, the article notes that researchers “performed brain scans and found that the children who were exercising appeared to have more neural activity in the frontal areas of their brains, an important area for executive function…” (The executive function controls self-monitoring, using strategies for goal making, impulse control, focus, and skills for organizing, and planning.)

So, what’s there to do for exercise in the middle of winter as a family? Here’s a few great places and cool activities where kids and parents can work out together:

The Movement Company of Keene offers fitness classes where teens can join adults; Pilates, yoga, aerobics and nia, a multilevel fitness dance class. Says Kathy Schillemat, office manager of the Moving Company, classes with teens and adults “helps build relationships between adults and children. Exercise classes keeps kids busy and seem to give them more confidence.”

Kathy also wants parents to know the Moving Company can also offer scholarships to those who qualify. Another great way to get fit together is at the Martial Arts Principal, in Keene. Owner Paul Bowman, a martial arts devotee for 21 years, offers Parent’s Day, where adults can join kids on Saturdays (offered every five weeks).

Of our tendency to be less active, Bowman says, “in today’s culture, physical education classes are being minimized. Without our bodies moving, the brain doesn’t get the blood it needs, which contributes to behavioral problems and mood issues – and the lymph system only operates under motion.”

In addition, Bowman believes the more interactive adults are with kids, “the better results you’ll get” with regard to overall health and fitness. “The body is meant to move, especially in the developing child.”

Recently, Keene saw the addition of The Kidszone, the newest place for kids to exercise in the Monadnock Region. One of The Kidszone owners, Terry Bonnette, envisioned a place where children could enjoy movement and incorporate technology.

Now open, the mission, explains Bonnette, “is to get kids active.” The computerized, interactive equipment is a natural for young people who want to mix technology with running, jumping and dance steps using the sport wall. While kids benefit in the area of hand-eye coordination and memory, there is lots of room for good old-fashioned enjoyment and enthusiasm, which helps encourage a healthy, life-long interest in all around physical and emotional well-being. Bonnette notes that approximately 80% of the kids who work out at Kidszone have a parent who works out right across the street at The Total Fitness Zone. The Kidszone also plans to add family nights sometime in the near future.

There are plenty of choices – and less excuses— on where and how work out with your children. Time to dig out those sneakers hidden away in your closet and get moving. Kids need it, and so do you!

Adele G. Michaelides, MA, is a clinical mental health counselor at MAPS Counseling Services in Keene. Adele works with children and adults, and co-leads the Expressive Arts and Music Therapy group for girls. She can be reached at (603) 355-2244 x101.