1. Outlining the area of children’s fitness ___________________________________ Ruben Lundtoft & Julie Johnsen “Fitness in Association” (www.foreningsfitness.dk) www.foreningsfitness.dk

2. Development in childrens fitness (”Overblik over den danske fitnesssektor”, Kasper Lund Kirkegaard, 2007) (Tal om børnekultur – en statistik om børn, kultur og fritid, Wulff og Bille, 2006) Less physical activity among children More times spend on TV, playstations and computers From children day care to activating children in fitness centers Childrens fitness has a large growth potential

3. Fitness programs with most growth potential: (“IDEA Health & Fitness Assoc. 11. annual Survey Results”, Sept. 2006) 1.Personal training; Pilates or Yoga 2.Kid's fitness 3.Adult one-on-one personal training 4.Pilates & traditional strength training fusion 5.Gyrotonic 6.Pilates 7.Senior classes 8.Strength training (group)

4. Also in Denmark we experience increasing demands on different kinds of fitness for children and teenagers. In Denmark it is estimated that 3.000 children are members in fitness centers. Clubs experience increasing demands from schools, local authorities, families with inactive children. Fitness for children in Denmark (Fitness til børn vinder frem, Berlingske Tidende, 2007) (Experiences from the project: “Fitness in association” www.foreningsfitness.dk )www.foreningsfitness.dk

5. Development project ”Children- and Teenfitness” Purpose of this project: - Fulfill the wishes for fitness-activities for children - Offer a wide range of physical activities to reach children with different interests - Create an environment where children can develop not only physical but also social skills and mental skills

6. What is fitness? (New Oxford American Dictionary, 2007) Fitness is: -the condition of being physically fit and healthy -the quality of being suitable to fulfill a particular role or task

7. What is: ”Children- and Teenfitness”? Strength training Strength training Basic training Basic training Cardio activities Cardio activities Exer- tainment Outdoor activities Outdoor activities Playing

8. Why fitness for children and teens? Fitness includes everyone – does not exclude: - poor motor functioned children/teens - overweighed children/teens More time to the individual - personal conversation

9. Generel motivation factors (Yngvar Ommundsen, professor, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway)

10. Enjoyment Self-efficacy A social good group environment

11. Generel motivation factors (Yngvar Ommundsen, professor, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway) Acknowledgement fore participation Personal investment in the activity Positive feedback Show attention to the child/youngster

12. Generel motivation factors (Yngvar Ommundsen, professor, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway) A democratically leader style is more motivating than authoritarian or laissez-faire leader style Children and youngsters should seek to have task/mastery goals instead of performance/ego-goal.

13. Working with children Be creative when working with children Include fun, exploring, games - this may include making new individual programs exercises and regulating goals - this may include reorganizing the room every week The entertaining value is important - This is their spare time It is our goal to see children leave the fitness center with a smile on their faces

14. Potentials Learning while exercising!

15. Discussion issues What is your experience with children fitness in your country? Fitness among children is popular. Is this reason enough to implement it in your respective physical cultures? How can we maintain the interest for fitness activities? How can you see it implemented in your country? Which opportunities/barriers do you see? How does it work in those countries who already have implemented fitness for children and teenagers?