Any tips on how to get a 11 (going on 14) year old interested

[Pelephant]

I don't expect my 11 year old to come out running with me but I really hoped she might want to work her way through the Strength and Flex with me. Last night she just laughed and said 'No way!' when pressed she said. 'It makes you look stupid!' She is just like I was at her age and a lot of it is to do with confidence. (despite her teenage bravado!) But I've really noticed the health benefits (and dare I say enjoyment) of becoming more active. It would be great if she didn't have to wait until she was 36 before she felt these benefits. What can I do to encourage her?

[TheEditor]

Does she have an ipod/MP3 player? Have you taken her to buy some cool exercise gear? Perhaps some of these might get her excited about exercising.

That said, your 11-year-old doesn't sound any different to most young people her age! The key about exercising is doing something you enjoy. Maybe you could suggest doing it once to see if she likes it. If she does, great. If she doesn't at least she will have given it a go.

Good luck!

[AnnaDJ]

I've been thinking about your question for a couple of hours. I was that 11 yr old (and 12, 13, 14, 20, 30 etc). I wonder if she'd be more willing to do it if she could bring a friend? Peer pressure is a wonderful thing if you can use it to your advantage. Also I wonder if she might prefer a different exercise. My kids have just taken up kids zumba and they love it. Mind you if I'm honest I've ended up with sporty kids, how god only knows as they put me to shame. They decided today since I'm now running that we could do family orientering which sounds kinda hard work but who am I to knock it. I think the key is to find something that appeals to her and then use that to say well you could get more out of z if you added in this or that too. Let's face it I wouldn't have started S&F if I didn't think it would improve my running.

[Pelephant]

Thanks all for your helpful comments. I haven't managed to persude her yet ... but still trying!