Why I Don’t Believe in “Kids Fitness”
I’ve had a secret for over a decade, and it’s finally time to let it out—I don’t believe in “kids fitness.” Now, before you start picturing me with a pitchfork at a local gym, hear me out. It’s not the kids part of “kids fitness” that I’ve been struggling with—it’s the fitness part.
There’s something inherently flawed about the way we, as fitness professionals, approach the idea of “fitness” for children. We’re often so caught up in designing programs that mirror adult fitness—complete with structured exercises, reps, sets, and goals—that we forget something crucial: kids don’t want to "do fitness." They want to move, explore, and play. Kids are naturally social and curious creatures who need programs that support their development, not ones that prime them to consume “fitness” the way adults do.
So, where does that leave us? The answer, I believe, lies in embracing physical literacy and developmentally appropriate practice over traditional "fitness" models. Let’s dive into why this shift in mindset is not just a good idea but essential to setting children up for a lifetime of activity, confidence, and joy in movement.
The Problem with “Fitness” for Kids
First off, let’s get one thing straight: kids don’t need to be primed for fitness the way adults are. They aren’t joining spin classes to build endurance or taking up CrossFit to develop strength. They aren’t worried about burning calories or logging miles on their Fitbits (hopefully). So why, then, are we trying to put them through fitness programs that mirror those of adults?
In my earlier blog on “5 Ways Adults Scare Kids Away from Fitness”, I talked about some common mistakes that many of us, with the best of intentions, make when teaching kids. Using exercise as punishment, turning every activity into a competition, and—perhaps my personal pet peeve—designing “kids fitness” programs that look suspiciously like adult workouts. All of these approaches come from a well-meaning place, but they miss a critical point: kids aren’t adults, and they shouldn’t be treated like mini versions of us when it comes to movement.
The truth is, children don’t need fitness programs that are based on reps, sets, and measurable outcomes. What they need is an environment where they can develop competence, confidence, and motivation to be physically active for life—this is what physical literacy is all about.
What Is Physical Literacy (and Why Does It Matter More Than Fitness)?
Physical literacy isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a framework that allows us to understand how children learn to move and grow as physically active beings. It focuses on three key pillars: competence, confidence, and motivation. When children have these three things, they develop a love for movement that stays with them throughout their lives.
Competence: Kids need to learn basic movement skills like running, jumping, balancing, and throwing. These are not just skills for gym class; they are the building blocks of physical activity. When kids feel competent in their ability to move, they are more likely to try new activities and enjoy them.
Confidence: This is closely linked to competence. When kids feel good about their ability to move, they develop confidence, which is critical for sticking with physical activities. Confidence is what keeps kids from getting discouraged if they aren't immediately "good" at something.
Motivation: This is the magic ingredient. When kids feel competent and confident, they are more likely to be motivated to engage in physical activities for the joy of it. Motivation is what turns a child from someone who participates in PE class because they have to, into someone who asks, "Can we play that game again?"
The biggest problem with traditional “kids fitness” programs is that they often fail to foster these three pillars. Instead of building competence, confidence, and motivation, they focus on structured exercises that may overwhelm, intimidate, or bore children. And once kids start associating movement with something they have to do rather than something they want to do, we’ve already lost them.
Why Kids Need Movement, Not “Fitness”
Children are naturally wired to move. Whether it’s racing across the playground, climbing trees, or even rolling down a grassy hill, kids are experts in play-based movement. But when we bring them into fitness environments designed with adult models in mind, we strip away the essence of what makes movement joyful for them.
Instead of structured workouts, what if we allowed kids to explore movement through play? This is where the concept of developmentally appropriate practice comes in. The key to engaging kids is meeting them where they are developmentally. Young children, for example, benefit from creative movement that taps into their imagination—think obstacle courses that mimic adventures or games where they pretend to be animals.
When kids move in ways that feel natural to them, they develop physical competence without even realizing it. And because they’re having fun, they build confidence. If we design programs around how kids naturally move—quick bursts of activity, frequent changes in pace, and games that allow them to be silly, creative, and explorative—we're nurturing both their physical and emotional development.
Moving Away from Fitness and Toward Lifelong Activity
The goal of working with children shouldn’t be to get them “fit” in the traditional sense, but rather to help them develop a love of movement. If we do our jobs right, the kids we work with today won’t just be physically active kids—they’ll be physically active adults. And this all comes down to one word: motivation.
If you want to teach kids to love movement for life, it’s not about perfecting their push-up form or getting them to hit a target heart rate. It’s about teaching them that movement is fun, freeing, and something they can enjoy in all sorts of ways—whether it’s dancing, playing tag, or riding a bike with friends.
Fitness for adults often comes with goals like weight loss, muscle gain, or achieving a particular body type. But for kids, it should be about play, exploration, and social interaction. That’s why I don’t believe in “kids fitness” as we often define it in the adult world. We need to be asking ourselves: how can we create programs that reflect the way kids naturally move rather than trying to impose our adult ideas of fitness on them?
The Bottom Line: Transforming Our Approach
If you’re a fitness professional working with children, I challenge you to rethink the way you approach “kids fitness.” Instead of focusing on metrics like strength, endurance, or agility, focus on helping children build physical competence, confidence, and motivation through play-based, developmentally appropriate movement.
Let’s stop trying to prime kids to consume fitness the way adults do. Instead, let’s step into their world. When we embrace physical literacy and developmentally appropriate practice, we avoid creating negative experiences or attitudes for fitness in kids and start fostering a love for movement that lasts a lifetime.