For a child, running is as essential and natural a movement as walking. From the very first years of life, the little one, full of indefatigable childish energy, loves movement, needs it and, what is more, of his own accord, without any encouragement, starts to do physical activity. It is very important to let him explore the world of his own desires and possibilities. So should children train to run?
When to send your child to cross-country training?
To answer the above question, we need to look at children’s stages of physical development. Children as young as 3-4 years old do not yet have sufficiently acute vision, have problems with determining the distance and size of obstacles, and with concentration. Their locomotor skills are not developed enough to be able to successfully imitate the movements of an adult. At this age, children should not train in sports in any purposeful way.
Five- and six-year-olds can run, but for them to concentrate longer on one activity is a real torture. Don’t take them on long walks, but rather let them run around in the backyard. Let running be part of the fun. Do not start any running training yet.
Children aged 8-12 already have a sufficiently developed nervous system to make more precise movements. They also have a greater ability to concentrate. However, it is not yet possible to direct a child towards a specific sport unless he or she is willing to do so.
At the age of adolescence (13-14 years), children often lose the motivation to participate in sport. The skeletal system is also not sufficiently mineralised and the muscles are not ready for significant effort. During this period, children can train, but endurance or overly strenuous workouts are not recommended. However, this is the right time for young people, under the guidance of qualified coaches, to start their running adventure in earnest.
Children’s running training – what to look out for?
An orthopaedic consultation to examine the osteoarticular system and rule out flatfoot should be carried out before a child starts running, especially for longer distances. Flat feet can progress when practising long runs.
It is also important to exercise with moderation and balance, as excessive strain on the muscles and joints can cause pain and even periostitis.
Do not encourage children to compete in running races. This is the easiest way to cause injuries or dangerous falls.
In both adult and child training, it is very important to choose the right footwear. Shoes should be comfortable and fit well. The sole should be soft and flexible, and the shoes should be breathable. Finding the right pair isn’t that easy, so you might want to try Explorer footwear to start with.
How do you encourage your child to run?
There can only be one answer to this question. Do not encourage. Encouragement can very easily turn into urging, and from there it is a short way to forcing. Above all, children should be taught that they have a choice and shown the various options available to them. Trying to impose one’s passions and interests on children often fails. This is related to our emotional relationship to a particular sport or art. We are so desperate for our children to develop a love for them too that we don’t even notice when we start to use coercion. This never ends well.
If we want our child to run more often, let’s show him or her different games that require this kind of movement. Arrange team games for children. Let’s give the child time to fully develop physically, emotionally and mentally, so that he or she grows up to practise running or any other sport he or she likes.
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