New Rules of Kids' Fitness

Your approach to a child's physical development can affect him for years to come. Make sure you get it right

When an NBA star talks, kids listen. That's why more than 250 kids at a New Orleans school were hanging on Tyson Chandler's every word. But Chandler, the 7'1" center for the NBA Hornets, wasn't giving the standard "I always dreamed of playing pro ball" spiel. He was talking two-wheelers with the students of Andrew H. Wilson Charter School during his visit with them as part of the Men's Health FitSchools' fight against childhood obesity.

"When I was growing up, my first love wasn't basketball," Chandler revealed to the surprised audience. "It was bike riding." And that, he explained, cultivated his passion for physical activity, which ultimately helped him thrive at hoops. (Along with a tremendous growth spurt, of course.)

It's this same level of passion that Chandler hoped to inspire at this FitSchools event. And to help that cause, he presented the school with brand-new bikes from Specialized and basketball goals from Spalding, along with a day of fit games with FitSchools staffers and New Orleans Hornets cheerleaders. The objective: to show kids how much fun fitness can be.

You can — and should — take the same approach at home. "Making sure your kids enjoy being active is the key to keeping them healthy for life," says FitSchools advisor Jim Liston, C.S.C.S. "But you may have to do the opposite of your first instinct." How so? See for yourself by following Liston's five new rules of kids' fitness.

1. Don't Compare Your Kids With Others

If your 6-year-old finds himself glued to the bench, it doesn't mean he'll never become a talented athlete. "Kids develop the coordination to run, catch, and throw at different rates," says Liston. "The trouble is, they're often expected to perform at certain levels based solely on their ages." As a result, a child whose development is slower than average may never have the opportunity to catch up to his peers.

Think of it this way: When a kid learns to read, he doesn't start with War and Peace . He starts with letters and words before progressing to sentences and stories. There's simply no way around it. It's the same with sports skills: "If a kid tries to catch a baseball on the run before he's able to catch a beach ball while standing still, he won't have the tools he needs to be successful," says Liston. "Unfortunately, many parents and coaches think the solution is for the child to try harder, when the real secret is backing up to a simpler task that the kid can improve upon."

2. Never Reward Kids With Food

It's no wonder childhood obesity is so prevalent: "We tell our children to eat healthy, but then we reward their good behavior with junk food," says Liston. "Think about what a mixed signal that sends." No, there's nothing wrong with an occasional treat. But to consistently reinforce a kid with ice cream and candy for a job well done — such as finishing his homework or behaving in the grocery store — delivers the wrong message.

What's more, you should use caution in rewarding kids with any kind of food, including healthy fare. "This practice can teach them that it's good to eat even when they're not hungry," explains Liston. "A better strategy is to give them another kind of reward — like extra playtime outside, especially if it's with you." They'll still learn which behaviors will be rewarded, and the prize won't be detrimental to their mental or physical development.

3. Know When To Praise

Kids aren't stupid. Say a child whiffs at three pitches in a row. The modern parent often tells him, "Good try." But that type of hollow praise doesn't console him, or help him the next time he steps up to the plate. "Praise should be specific and authentic, as in, 'Good job juggling the ball 10 times. I see you've been practicing a lot. Your efforts have paid off,' " says Liston. "You should also mix instruction and encouragement when your child makes a mistake." So look for a teaching point, even on a strikeout. For instance, you might say, "Good eye on that second and third pitch. Keep swinging at pitches like those, and the hits will come."

Perhaps just as important, avoid telling the kid what he should have done: "You have to swing sooner, Billy!" There's nothing wrong with acknowledging mistakes, but keep the focus of your instruction on what the child is doing correctly. This will boost his confidence and help him improve faster. You might liken it to the approach parents use when a toddler is learning to walk. They typically encourage every tiny step of improvement instead of dwelling on the falls. Use the same strategy when you teach the most basic sports skills, and your child will have greater success — and, as a result, more fun.

4. Instruct By Showing, Not Telling

Forget the phrase "Keep your eye on the ball." Why? Because the first time most kids hear it, they have no idea what you're talking about. "You can't just tell a young person who's learning a new skill what to do," says Liston. "You have to show him." Then let the child try it, reinforce what he did correctly, and repeat the entire process. That's because children need repetition in order to learn a new task and instill correct behaviors.

Apply this technique when you're teaching a child to hit a baseball:

1. Stand a few feet away from the kid (who should be holding the bat, ready to swing) and tell him to look at the ball.

2. Move toward him with the ball in your hand while continually instructing him to keep looking at the ball. This simple method teaches him to track the ball.

3. When you approach the strike zone, tell him to slowly try to hit the ball with the bat.

4. Now go back to the starting point, but this time toss the ball into the strike zone and allow him to swing at full speed.

5. Review what the child did well and give instruction for improvement.

6. Repeat the process, making sure he's consistently successful before you increase the difficulty by throwing the ball faster.

5. Remember to keep play fun

Don't worry too much about the rules. "Making a game or activity too rigid is the best way to guarantee that a kid won't want to be active," says Liston. "Your job is to facilitate play, not dictate it." So if kids stop playing an organized game and start chasing a butterfly, just go with it. "As long as young kids are running, jumping, and having fun, they're improving their health and athletic ability."

It's also important to avoid embarrassing situations that can stick with a child. That means kids shouldn't pick their own team members, and no one should be made an example when learning a new skill. "The fewer negative experiences and the more enjoyment kids have," Liston says, "the more likely they are to continue to be active for a lifetime."