Kids and fitness training - almost as controversial a subject as steroids in baseball!  When should they start?  What should they do?  Well, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recently come out with some new guidelines that I think are pretty proactive and warrant an applause...not only that, they need to be broadcast to parents!  If everyone thinks kids should not do fitness training until they are 16 America is going to continue to get fat...by that time it is too late!  In this age, by the time they are teens they are cell-phone-ipod-myspace-infused humans with the last thing on their mind being fitness training!

While changing the school system would be great, but with politics and money in the way the easier road seems to be - educate the parents on fitness training for kids.  One huge obstacle that is in the way - a majority of parents don't model it themselves!  Tough sell to a kid craving Cheetos and xBox 360!

If you are a parent, take a look at the guidelines below and see if you can do anything to implement fitness training into your childs life.  It should be noted that AAP stated that sports are still the best way to get kids active and can serve as a viable replacement to fitness training.  I believe there should be a combo of both - because for most kids, sports fade away somewhere around 10 years old and if they can have a fitness training base it may be something they pick up as an alternative to sports!

Here are highlights from The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, published in April's editionof Pediatrics:

• Don't start before kids are 7-8 years old. Kids' balance and posture don'tmature until then.
• Before starting strength training, kids and teens should get a medicalcheckup.
• Follow proper techniques, with strict supervision by a qualifiedinstructor.
• Warm up for 10-15 minutes.
• Strength-train for at least 20-30 minutes, then cool down for 10-15minutes.
• Address all major muscle groups, including the core muscles
• Start with light weights and focus on technique.
• Use control; don't slam the weights up and down.
• Many strength-training machines are designed for adults; free weights maybe a better option for kids.
• Don't strength-train the same muscles every day. Two to three times perweek is enough; more sessions may lead to injury.
• When the child or teen can do 8-15 repetitions easily, add weight in 10%increments.