This book is not just for classrooms or families with overweight or
unhealthy kids--every family that has children with televisions,
computers, and/or video games under one roof should take care to
exercise regularly. Tweens spend as much time sitting down watching TV,
playing video games, or using computers as they spend in school each
week. According to statistics from the U.S. Health and Human Resources
Department, one third of American children are overweight or obese due
to our lifestyle choices. The number one concern that parents bring up
to pediatricians is keeping kids fit, and half of all children are not
physically active enough for the development of a healthy cardiovascular
system. In this age of electronic media, where we become watchers
instead of doers, we are simply forgetting the many wonderful ways of
playing and exercising together.
Tweens in particular are susceptible to overweight issues; the drop-out
rate of structured sports programs is highest at this age group.303
Tween-Approved Exercises and Active Games is written specifically for
kids ages 9-12 years old. Kimberley Wechsler, a specialist in Kid's
Fitness, took into account the fundamental attributes of being a child
while developing these exercises. Children have specific physiologic
differences that make them unique. They grow, mature, and develop skills
at different ages, so what may be skill appropriate for one child could
be harmful for another child. These exercises reflect the emotional,
social, physical level of this age group.
Children of this age group are now at the skill level in which physical
challenges like mind, body, meditation, balance, muscle strengthening,
and sport performance building exercises become very important. Sports
skills and drills can now be developed, and competition is highlighted
and welcomed within this age group. Kids at this age like to show off
their talents so it is important for teachers and parents to observe and
provide positive feedback on all of their accomplishments. At this age,
tweens want to belong to a sport, group, or identify with a sport
celebrity to begin to define who they are and what their likes are;
friends also tend to become more of an influence than parents at this
age. Bad behavior patterns and peer pressure have now developed--making
it more difficult to change current patterns--but it can be done. 303
Tween-Approved Exercises and Active Games can help tweens build
confidence in high-pressure situations and build their social skills
through playing team sports.
Kids within this age group are now experienced with the basic
fundamentals of fitness and prefer games, sports, and exercises that are
more challenging and competitive. They are physically, intellectually,
emotionally becoming young adults. They can think abstractly, make
decisions, understand rules and challenge rules; they are more mature
then kids 6-8 years old, and their games and physical challenges must
reflect these characteristics. They have formed a sense of self-identity
and they are more independent, yet their friends are very important to
them. Many of the exercises are written to include their friends--they
can challenge their friends or work as a team with their friends.
Tweens have a preferred Fitness Personality--a style of fitness that
suits their likes. Therefore, they can choose their style of exercises
from 303 physical challenges. They can choose to do them independently,
with a friend, or with a group of friends. They can choose from many
styles of fitness in 303 Tween-Approved Exercises and Active Games:
mind/body, military style fitness, sports performance, functional
resistance, strength training, plyometric style, outdoor challenges,
circuit/interval/obstacle course training. 303 Tween-Approved Exercises
and Active Games allows tweens to choose the type of exercise. By
giving each challenge/game a point value, tweens can freely choose their
exercises and will receive a complete workout each and every time.
Teachers and parents can join in on the fun too!
