“Fat camps” are very successful in helping children lose weight – but what makes them so successful? Simply, camps like ours keep overweight/obese children active. Kids don’t sit around playing video games nor do they watch television all day long on summer vacation. The weight loss camp activities are intended to get children up and moving, as not to miss out on any of the fun.
The counselors at our camps will keep kids active by organizing competitions, swimming, walks and exercise classes. Couple all this with the walking the kids must do to get to and from each class and their activity levels boost.
It’s not uncommon for adults to cringe when the word exercise is mentioned so how do you expect children to react to it? Many overweight children cannot easily touch their toes or do sit-ups/pushups. The extra weight being carried around causes them to feel awkward and clumsy. How many people feel comfortable doing something that doesn’t put them at ease?
There’s much a parent can do to help their child out physically without mentioning the word exercise. Consider walking with your child; take an adventure walk/hike into unexplored areas of your neighborhood, city, town, etc. There are many places that you can go that encourage walking such as the zoo, state fairs and more. If you don’t get motion sickness, why not enjoy kayaking or canoeing on the river for some exercise?
Listen to what your child is telling you about what kinds of things interest him/her. If they like planes, consider going to an airplane museum or walk around military ships. There are many different exhibits available that require you to do a lot of walking. Consider a picnic near a stream that will get a kid skipping rocks to pass the time. If your child loves to bowl, implement a bowling night once a week. If you’ve got younger children, consider creating a treasure hunt that will get your children moving around the property, all to find the clues and ultimate treasure.
If you can afford it and your child has been asking, consider a dog for your household. Make sure that the dog has its shots and has had obedience training, is house trained and wants a friend too. Make sure to add a stipulation that the child must walk the dog twice a day. Most children, however, will play with their canine friend all their own.
Guess what? Your child won’t notice that he/she is getting exercise if you divert their attention to something that interests them.
A kids weight loss camp focuses attention on fitness and provides children with a variety of exercises that are intended to keep overweight/obese kids active and losing weight. These camps will help the child start exercising, increasing the success of them losing the extra pounds. Parents just need to plan and imagine ways to continue their child’s success once the camp is over.
