It is every parent and teacher’s duty and challenge to develop positive life-long fitness habits in children. Anything we can do to make exercise fun and positive for kids should be embraced, while anything that may turn a kid off to exercise should be avoided.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to hear about kids being given exercise punishment by their teachers and coaches for making mistakes in their performance or behavior. Even though these educators may have the best of intentions, exercise should never be linked to anything negative or punitive, because it can turn a kid off to exercise.

Associating exercise with punishment is usually what an unskilled or lazy coach will do if they lack the training to get the behavior they want through positive behavior modification and motivation techniques.

Catching kids doing something right and praising it is harder than catching mistakes. It takes focus, a higher level of consciousness and training. We are used to noticing mistakes. They stand out. But we know that praising good behavior and correct skills specifically and immediately is more effective in teaching than pointing out errors. In fact, pointing out errors brings ones attention to the problem – not the solution.

Skilled teaching and coaching is centered on motivating students to give their best effort through progressive step-by-step successes earned by reaching achievable goals, praise and encouragement. When a child learns that exercise is associated with the joy of success, there is a natural motivation to exercise more. When the link is made between exercise and punishment, there is a natural motivation to avoid exercise.

The U.S. Surgeon General this year announced that, more than ever, youth in America are unfit and at risk of heart disease. In growing numbers, kids today are living sedentary lifestyles, dropping out of sports and eating fast food high in fat. Exercise and proper nutrition are the only ways to avert this health crisis. By creating positive, not negative incentives for exercise, we can get kids back on track.

Jeff Lulla is the President of Fun & Fit Gymnastics in Santa Clarita and Burbank, California. He is also a member of the National Preschool Advisory Board for USA Gymnastics as well as an author, consultant, lecturer and a National Safety Instructor for USA Gymnastics. Since 1991 his Fun & Fit Gymnastics Curriculum System has been licensed to hundreds of gyms across America. For more information about Fun & Fit Gymnastics call 661-255-7244.

2005 Los Angeles Family Magazine