Baby Boot Camp Aims To Develop Exercise Habits Into Adulthood
ARVADA, Colo. (CBS4) - Time and time again it's been reported that there is an epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. But how early should parents start to introduce exercise to their child? CBS4's Gloria Neal found an answer some may find controversial.
A boot camp for babies -- most think that's over the top. After all, if they can't walk, they certainly can't workout. But some parents at My Gym Children's Fitness Center in Arvada would disagree.
"The youngest we start at is 6 weeks old; the oldest is 10 years old," father and My Gym Children's Fitness Center owner Thomas Hobby said.
Hobby says children who are active develop and learn at a faster rate than those who don't.
"We do different activities with them to help their motor skills development, their balance, their coordination as they grow," Hobby said.
Hobby says all children are born naturally tight and tense. Their muscles need to be loosened and stretched. As a dad and educator he's says he's motivated by the childhood obesity numbers.
"We want to make it fun for them at an early age so they stay active throughout adulthood," he said.
Mel agrees. Her son Lucas is 11 months old and she wanted to find more stimulation than what was around the house.
"It provided everything we couldn't do at home … both of us get bored at home," Mel said. "It (going to the fitness center) had to do with just play and new experiences and being really stimulated, and just being able to do things that we don't do anywhere else during our week."
Hobby says when people start being active at a young age they develop habits that tend to stay with them for their entire life.
