Last week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Christin Gillham of Newsweek magazine for an article on personal training for kids. This was followed by a photoshoot in Chicago with myself and some of my young athletes.

The full article is available in this week's edition of Newsweek, and there is also a shortened version online available here:

Brian Grasso in Newsweek

I have also put a portion of the article below...

Have a great week,

Brian


Does Your Child Need a Personal Trainer?
By Christina Gillham
Newsweek

June 18, 2007 issue -

... Here are some tips for finding the right person to work with your child:

Make sure the trainer has the proper credentials. Simply taking an Internet class doesn't qualify someone to be a personal trainer. Be sure your child's trainer is certified by a nationally recognized organization, such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association (nsca-lift.org) or the American College of Sports Medicine (acsm.org) and/or has a bachelor's degree in physical therapy or a fitness-related field. Within the past few years, some organizations, like the International Youth Conditioning Association (www.iyca.org), have begun offering youth-fitness-training certificates, though these are still uncommon.

Ask what kind of experience the trainer has with kids. Because kids are still growing, they are in a constant state of development and need to be trained accordingly. Look for a trainer who has taken courses in child development or pediatric exercise science or has worked with kids before. Be sure to ask how many of his or her clients are kids. Small says that number should be at least 50 percent.

See a pediatrician first. Just like adults, kids should have a thorough checkup before they start a new fitness program. If your child has any special medical condition, such as diabetes or asthma, find out what the limitations of his physical activity should be. Kids who are loose-limbed or have recurring injuries also need to take some precautions with weight training. Have the pediatrician set restrictions and make sure the trainer knows them.

Know when to start. Most experts agree that children can start a weight-training program between 6 and 8 years of age, but only you know your child's maturity level. Ask yourself, "Can he accept and follow directions? Is he able to participate in group activity?" Even if he's at the right age biologically, he may not be the right age emotionally.

Assess the trainer's personality. When Tammy Olszewski of South Barrington, Ill., was looking for a trainer for her three kids—Morgan, 12, Michael, 10, and Madison, 8—she considered Brian Grasso of the IYCA. His bachelor's degree in exercise science, continuing education in pediatric exercise science and years of working with kids impressed her. Then, "I met him and his personality was, like, 'boom.' My kids adore him," she says. Kathie Davis, executive director of IDEA Health and Fitness Association, a membership group for fitness pros, stresses the importance of the trainer's interaction with kids. "We have to make kids want to exercise," she says. Having a trainer who knows how to interact with kids is essential to getting them motivated. (For more tips on what to look for in a personal trainer, see ideafit.com and click on Fitness Resources.)

Regardless of the reason parents send their child to a personal trainer, the emphasis should be on having a good time. "Kids don't respond to repetitive monotony," like walking on a treadmill, says Small. "They need variety. It has to be fun." Olszewski, for one, saw the positive outcome. "My kids didn't even realize they were exercising," she says. "They had a blast." And that is music to any parent's ears.