YMCA program keeps kids exercising

The Kannapolis YMCA is committed to making sure everyone enjoys a healthy lifestyle – even the youngest of people.

Over the past several years, the Kannapolis Y has offered a twice-weekly kids fitness class designed to introduce kids age 5-10 to exercise.

“They have to work out. They can’t just come in and sit. This isn’t a baby-sitting class,” said Director of Programs Renee Hogan.

“They meet twice a week for one hour with one of my fitness staff. It’s a very active class and it keeps them busy.”

“We do dodge ball, kickball, but mostly we run the indoor track, for at least a mile,” said group fitness instructor Bobbi Jo Carpenter.

“Some of the girls are in running programs, so they will do more. But they have to go 16 times around, which is a mile.

“And we do circuits. I teach high school physical education, so I know the fitness testing,” said Carpenter. “I make sure they can do pushups. I make sure they can do situps, and stretch. I just think that is important.”

Though the class is offered only through age 10, Hogan says, the YMCA encourages all kids who come in to try some type of activity.

“People love bringing their kids here,” said Hogan. “We actually let kids in our fitness room, if they are with an adult, from 10 years old and up, we encourage them to come in and work out with their parents and get in the habit of working out.

“It’s a good place to come. Its small and very family oriented. We try to be like the old-fashioned YMCA that people used to have; it’s not just a gym.”

The open invitation to let kids participate also is a hit with parents.

“I think they like it because the kids are not just sitting in a nursery,” said Carpenter. “At other gyms, they probably would. A lot of them will take a kickboxing class, or another class, or run on a treadmill or whatever they want to do. Their kids are still getting to work out. It keeps it very family oriented.”

Aside from the health benefits of starting to exercise at an early age, Carpenter said she also believes it will help build children build character down the road.

“I think it is really important that they start at a young age, learning to exercise and to find something that they like to do,” she said.

“Every child is not going to be good at basketball, or swimming, or soccer. So this allows them to exercise and feel they are good at something. It doesn’t take much to walk or run around the track, but they can still feel good about themselves and accomplish what they can.

“Hopefully, this will give them self-confidence and maybe (they will) want to try a sport.”