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8 The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanvillc, Wednesday, November 2,1994 Never Too Young to Get Fit In the Municipality of Claring- lon, countless parents are joining die trend towards fitness and recreational recreational programs for pre-schoolers. There is a wide array of classes that teach fun and fitness for kids up to the age of five, as well as interactive interactive programs for parents and their children. As parents consider that a healthy lifestyle is the start to living longer, children at younger ages than ever before are becoming involved. involved. The move by many parents may be linked to the publicity that designates designates today's children as the "TV generation." Parents who are considering enrolling enrolling their pre-schoolers in physical physical activity programs should seek ones that arc, above all else, fun. They should also be, noncompetitive, noncompetitive, have no pressure attached, attached, and be active. It's also recommended to speak with instructors prior to registering to get a better feel for the program, and to find out a little about their experience. experience. Start Children Early Regular exercise helps to ease the boredom from daily routine. The belief that pre-schoolers are too young to be involved in structured exercise programs is a fallacy. "They are never too young," says Dr. Kathleen Hoch, who is a Doctor of Chiropractic at the Bow- manville Family Chiropractic Centre. Centre. "Between the ages of two and three, children can start light, physical physical programs. The earlier they start with co-ordination and physical fitness, fitness, it will set a pattern for life." Dr. Hoch recommends that young children undergo a spinal/ postural examination if they are about to get started in strenuous physical activity. Spinal curvatures, leg length deficiencies, or uneven shoulders and hips can be detected early, thus avoiding serious injury later in life. Municipal Programs The Municipality of Clarington Community Services Department is always on the lookout for new programs programs to offer children, as well as watching any trends that may be developing developing in other municipalities, says Recreation Superintendent, Jennifer Cooke. Programs that are in demand, giving kids freedom of movement and constant variety, arc just a few of the key components the department department uses when developing activities activities for children. "The attention span of most individual individual kids is about , three seconds long, so programs have to go at a very quick pace," Cooke noted. "If you don't keep the kids in volved, they lose interest. Once you've lost one, you lose them all.' Free skating programs are offered offered through the week at both the Recreation Complex and Darlington Sports Centre. Parents and their children can take advantage of the free skating at the Recreation Complex Complex on Tuesday afternoons, or at the Darlington Sports Centre on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Fridays. Each session is one and a half hours long. At the Fitness Centre Pool, swimming lessons for children as young as four weeks old are offered. Watcrbabics, which is designed for children aged one month to twelve months, introduces kids to water through the aid of toys and equipment. equipment. Parents play an active role in the half-hour classes. There are also Kinderswim, Starfish, Starfish, Guppy and Tadpole programs, to name just a few, that help children children up to the age of five overcome fear of the water. Teenage Years As active children reach their teenage years and move into adulthood, adulthood, they will enjoy the benefits of regular exercise. An increase in fitness fitness level, self-confidence, discipline, discipline, and weight control are just some of the advantages. Of particular note is weight control. control. According to a 1991 survey, two in five Canadians face possible health risks and premature death by being overweight. Inconvenience and lack of time are the two most often used excuses by adults for not following through with a fitness program. program. It is a common belief that if kids are introduced to some form of physical activity at an early age, they will advance to exercising regularly, regularly, and avoid unhealthy habits later in life. Willi a healthy lifestyle imprinted on kids under the age of five, problems problems of delinquency during teenage years can be avoided. Teens are able to occupy spare time with recreational recreational activities. "The boy who steals second, isn't stealing autos," wrote baseball advocate J.H. Fichier back in 1961. It's just one of the many examples examples of the positive influence fitness can have on children. Skating Program ; Offered by BFSC Filled to Capacity The popularity of a skating program program for pre-schoolers offered by the Bowmanvillc Figure Skating Club has exceeded all expectations. Kidskalc, an introductory skating program for children aged 3-5, is in its first full year of operation in Bowmanvillc. And, based on the response response received during registrations, the program may be targeted for a. long and prosperous future. Two sessions are currently underway, underway, with the maximum number of 25 skaters enrolled in each. Organizers Organizers were forced to establish a waiting list for parents eager to get their children involved. The objectives of the Kidskalc program are very simple. "The kids learn to get up on their feet and have fun. That's the main emphasis," said Lori Morel, speaking speaking on behalf of the Bowmanvillc Figure Skating Club. ' 'Last year, three quarters of the kids crawled to centre ice at the start. But by the end, they were skating forwards and backwards from one end of the ice to the other." x - Under the guidelines established by the Canadian Figure Skating Association, Association, kids arc taught the funda- menuils of skating. These include the correct method of pushing, gliding, gliding, stopping and turning, as well as proper posture. Lots of games and music add to the learning experience. There are two separate, 50- minute sessions being conducted on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday afternoons at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex in Bowman- ville. The sessions arc eight weeks in duration, and under llic supervision supervision of three qualified instructors. The Bowmanvillc Club operated a similar program for pre-schoolers last year, with registration numbers reaching 13. The response this year was much bigger. "The kids enjoy it because the instructors really stress the fun," said Morel, while watching a Tuesday Tuesday morning session in progress. "Last year, three-quarters of the kids crawled to centre ice at the start. But, by the end, they were skating forwards and backwards from one end of the ice to the other. "It doesn't take long for them to learn in an eight-week session." Many of the pre-schoolers will register for future sessions. Some arc likely to advance into a CanSk- ate program offered by figure skating skating clubs, or hockey leagues at the recreational and all-star levels. Parents seeking further information information about the program, or those who would like to sign up their preschoolers preschoolers for the sessions confirmed to start in mid-January should contact contact Ann Monaghan, at 623-3354. She is in charge of registration. WATERBABIES - Children under the age of one arc registering Parents arc reminded to register for Watcrbabics swimming lessons, where they join their parents in early to avoid being placed on the the pool for a half-hour session. J u ks : *rk.i •:Lv .'-•vrLfl" ■X 1 waiting list. H'T J: * i -v«f ■ - X, ■ LEARNING TO SKATE - This youngster had to enlist the aid of a chair to help get around the ice during a pre-school skating program offered by the Bowmanvillc Figure Skating Club. The program is just one of many that encourage kids under the age of five to become involved in physical activities., ' I As another Saturday aerobics class winds down, the participants suddenly become rejuvenated as one of the most recognizable songs in the world echoes through the sound system. "I love you, you love me..." Yes, the opening theme song to the kids' hit television show, Barney, Barney, has captured the undivided attention attention of the participants. You were thinking something else, perhaps? This particular class is being put through its paces by Sheri Heard, who is bringing the half-hour session session to its conclusion. And, by the looks on die faces of the young participants, participants, the end has come at the right time. t "A half hour is the maximum these kids can go with their attention attention span," says Heard, whose daughter, Brianna, is in the class. "After ten minutes, they start to gel hot and thirsty. But, the half hour docs go by fast." A small group of kids ranging in age from dircc to five has just com pleted the Saturday morning Fitness for Kids class at the Active Bodies Fitness Centre in Bowmanvillc. Nearing the end of an eight-week session, the kids have been meeting regularly on Saturday mornings, receiving receiving an introduction into living an active and healthy lifestyle through regular physical activity. Kids have been meeting regularly regularly on Saturday mornings, receiving an introduction into living an active and healthy lifestyle through regular physical activity. "We show them how to exercise through play," said Carol Sclby- Recd, who has operated Active Bodies Bodies since 1986. Basic stretches, rolls, and steps arc done to recognizable songs, including including the opening and closing diemes to Barney, and other favourites favourites such as the Ilsy, Bitsy, Spider. For die entire half-hour, Heard guides the kids dirough the class, all die while keeping die environment fun and upbeat. "We tried the class last year, and it went so well that we decided to do it again this year,"'said Selby-Rèed. For some of the kids, it is a time for them to emulate what they may have seen their parents do during an aerobics class. That is exaedy the case for Caroline Caroline Wood, whose daughter, Jessica, is one of the Fitness for Kids regulars. regulars. "I come to the club for aerobics, so she is always here watching die adults. I got her involved because Î thought it would be good for her,'.' said Caroline, while Saturday's class was in progress. '< ■ ) i. ; Like many of the others, her daughter took a liking to the class immediately. I "Even when I come to aerobics now, she always asks if it is her turn, and I have to tell her no, not until Saturday," added Caroline. • Each session runs for eight weeks, and the public is invited, arid encouraged, to register. FITNESS FOR KIDS - Sheri Heard, far left, leads a group of kids aged lltree to live through a Fitness for Kids aerobics session dial takes place on Saturday mornings. STARTER. Youth Sizes $ 124" We'll match a advertised p Durham Re iMS J Teen Sizesj from i'tV'Wÿl Shop early while the selection is at its best. W $ 144 s 49 Uso our convonlont layaway i OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Evenings and Sundays tiowmanville Sports Shop Your Community Sports Specialty Shop 58 King St. W., Bowmanville 623-0322