Fitwize 4 Kids: A Kid-Centered Fitness Program
By Linsey Trask
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In September of this year, Donna Williams opened Fitwize 4 Kids, a healthy lifestyle center in Waterford Commons that offers programs for kids ages 6 to 15 to encourage the development of good fitness and nutrition habits.
As a parent of two elementary schoolers, Donna saw the need for a safe, fun way to get kids more interested in fitness and nutrition. With a background in education, she also realized that most kids won’t try something they do not think they’ll be good at.
“Many kids will give up on new activities if they feel others are ‘better’ than they are,” says Williams. “At Fitwize 4 Kids we try to remove the competition between one another and put the focus on the individual. If they see that they can do it, it becomes more fun and interesting to them. In turn, they will improve tremendously!”
At first glance, the center looks like a regular gym, with fitness equipment dotted throughout the brightly painted main room; however, a closer look reveals that the center is much more than just a gym for the younger set. The strength-training equipment at Fitwize 4 Kids has been designed specifically for children’s growing bodies, and the design also incorporates measures to protect kids from injury. The cardio equipment allows kids to work at their own pace and rest when needed — the machines will not keep moving when the children slow down or stop.
Surrounding the equipment are fitness balls, jump ropes, balance boards and two plasma televisions where center members can play Dance Dance Revolution, a video game that gets kids on their feet, dancing on an electronic dance pad. Along the walls are framed trivia questions that change each month to focus on a specific theme — October’s theme was bones and calcium.
When a child arrives for his or her session, a coach is there to lead him through the various activities the center offers. Coach led us through a typical session at Fitwize 4 Kids during our interview.
“We make it fun for the kids,” he says. “Instead of taking them through the same circuit each session, we add new elements and games and keep them engaged with our trivia questions. They get excited as they improve and learn more about staying healthy at the same time.”
The center also incorporates nutritional education as part of the fitness program. Workshops on sports nutrition, food types, healthy options for eating out and basic cooking lessons are taught by registered dietitians as part of Fitwize 4 Kids regular curriculum.
“Our center isn’t just for kids who need to lose weight or establish healthy eating habits,” says Williams. “We’re here to offer kids the chance to develop a life-long interest in overall health, as well as strong self-esteem.”
To encourage kids to do their best, without the pressure of competition with others, Fitwize 4 Kids utilizes a Motivation & Achievement System — a 12-month program that allows kids and their parents to track individual progress. The system consists of 11 levels, including two Bronze, two Silver and one final Gold Level, that encourages kids of any physical ability — from children with special needs to the young athletes — to participate and excel.
Unlike structured dance classes or sports practices, Fitwize 4 Kids has an open schedule that allows parents to drop off their children at any time for a fully structured and supervised 45-minute session. Many parents find that the programs at the center are beneficial to the activities their children already participate in, as the coaches work with each child individually to accomplish his or her goals.
Williams believes in the long-term benefits of ensuring that children stay healthy and active.
“More than anything, I want these kids to increase their self-esteem, which will open up so many doors for them in their future,” Williams says. “We are giving kids a fun place to learn good habits that will last a lifetime.”
Fitwize 4 Kids is located at
Visit Fitwize 4 Kids online at www.fitwize4kids.com.
