Kids Running -Nurture your child

Weights for Kids?

COMPETITIVE RUNNING
Kids Running Dot Com has been giving advice to parents and kids for almost 10 years now. We encourage children to do their best, be good sports, and have fun while running. It's our job to help children embrace running as a lifetime activity. We don't have all the answers, but like our running kids, we try our best. We answer letters every day, but we only print a few. Here's a snapshot of how we spend our time.

Photo courtesy of Photos by JOhn from the Lehigh Valley Kids Run

Dear Coach,
My son is 8 years old and he loves running. His legs tend to be a little weak. At the end of his race he gets mad because kids pass him because his legs give out. Would lifting leg weights occasionally hurt him or help? He also has a problem stretching. He can't bend.

My last question is embarrassing. I am competitive and I ran track as a child also. I want him to try his hardest and win so I bribe him with money. I tell him if he wins he gets $40.00 and if he beats his personal time he gets $20.00.

I know this is wrong isn't it? I take it too seriously. I don't want him to not have fun running. Thanks and I appreciate your input.
Lisa

Lisa,
I am forwarding a letter to you from Coach Ed. He answered you very kindly but I am going to add my 2 cents if you don't mind. I am worried that your child's anger at being beaten stems from the pressure he feels to win. He is too young for this. As a teacher, I would like to see him have more fun, be more of a team player, and be happy with other's successes. He has plenty of time for competitive running with high stakes.
Carol, Editor KidsRunning.Com

Hi Lisa,
I would not suggest leg weight training of any kind. There is an increased risk of injury but mostly I don't suggest it because it is not needed. All he has to do is run longer and slower a couple of times a week (1 mile twice a week will work) to build up both his cardio and muscle endurance. It is really that simple. A little fun distance running will go a long way.

Stiff kids? I see it all the time and it really impedes an athlete's progression as they get older. Fortunately I work at a YMCA and I send my stiff runners to Youth Yoga. Yes, even the boys and they love it because they see improvement right away. Youth or beginners Yoga with you will help so much.

Your question of whether you are right or wrong by encouraging your son to win by offering money is not for me to answer. Lisa if you think it's wrong........it's wrong. If you think it's right....... it's right. I trust your judgment. You and I have a different philosophy on youth running and there again there is no right or wrong it is just different. As a coach I offer encouragement, knowledge, and appreciation of doing your best to my young athletes. Winning races rarely comes up in training or practice sessions but my kids sure win their share of races. Different philosophies that's all.
Coach Ed

Thanks Ms. Goodrow,
I appreciate your honesty. I know you're right. I don't want him to feel any pressure. It makes me feel sad that I push him so much to win. I need to work on my issues so that he does not get affected by them.
Lisa

Dear Lisa,
Yes, and let me know how it works out. You don't want to see your son pouting at the races while the others are having fun.

He should do his best and try to win, but can also learn to congratulate the one who beats him. Elite athletes do this.

And it should come from his heart. He can learn to say, "Hey, good race! Next time!!" and shake hands or high five.

Maybe he should just do some fun runs where there isn't a winner. I have an (x)K family fun run. The kids and their families run as many 1-K laps as they want. There is no 1st-place race winner. Everyone has so much fun, that each child feels like a winner.

If you only get a reward for winning, life can be pretty scary. It's never too late to start nurturing your son.
Carol

I will Ms. Goodnow. You and Coach Ed helped me out a lot. Great advice. I'm glad I found the website. Have a great night.
Lisa

Carol Goodrow is the Founding Editor of kidsrunning.com and the author of 3 healthily-ever-after books: Happy Feet, Healthy Food, Your Child's First Journal of Exercise and Healthy Eating (information book and journal), The Treasure of Health and Happiness (chapter book), and Kids Running: Have Fun, Get Faster & Go Farther (kid-friendly information book full of how-to, poetry, activities, jokes, and riddles). Carol's books were all written to help you nurture your children.

Ed Poirier is a youth fitness specialist and youth coach. He writes and advice column for kidsrunning.com . He also contributed some of his best tips to Carol's newest book, Kids Running. You can Ed's column here.

Send us your kids running questions.

carolgoodrow@verizon.net