5 Reasons Why Kids Need Kettlebells

With the start of a new school year, parents may be pondering which after school activity to enroll their kids in. From Sept. 25-Nov. 29, SKC will be hosting a Fall Youth Kettlebell Sport Series for ages 11-14. With an array of physical activities and sports to choose from, here are 5 reasons why kettlebell training is a fantastic exercise for kids! 

1.  It Makes Kids Strong and Healthy 
 

Many schools aren’t prioritizing fitness in their curriculum, so kids are spending more and more time at a desk.

“Kettlebells are a great way for kids to get stronger, develop coordination, and build confidence when they’re not able to do those things in school or in play,” Nikolai Puchlov, SKC owner, said.

Working with kettlebells strengthens the posterior chain, which counteracts all the sedentary time. Plus, SKC prioritizes form and safety above everything else. 

“Kettlebell also teaches people how to move their body and lift properly in the first place, so that when they get older, and they’re lifting weights or moving heavy thing, they’ll be able to do that more safely,” Puchlov said.

2. It Develops Your Individual Strengths

 

When you think about sports like football or basketball, certain body types have advantages or disadvantages depending on the person's body type. Also, during puberty years kids are developing at different rates, so adolescence may feel insecure about the changes their bodies are going through. At SKC, our workouts cater to a variety of body types and fitness levels.

“Instead of someone feeling ashamed about being a little bit heavier, they’ll be able to move those bells a little easier and feel good about the size that they are, and a tall and skinny kid will lift with a little more leverage, and they’ll feel good about being tall and skinny, so it’s a huge confidence booster,” Puchlov said. 

3. It’s a Full Body Sport that can be Done Inside 

Those who live in dense city areas may not have access to open spaces and parks, so kids are spending a lot of time indoors. 

      Because of the lack of outdoor activity, at a young age kids are almost immediately exposed to cell phones and tablets, and it forces them into a bad position where they’re hunched over with their head hanging forward and shoulders slouched. Along with that, kids spend hours every week sitting in a classroom and studying, which also leads to bad posture. Every kettlebell exercise counter that and strengthens opposing muscles.

4. It Helps with Stress and Anxiety 

“That’s why I got into fitness. Kettlebells have a calming effect since when you’re doing them, you can’t really think about anything else, so it really stills the mind. It’s almost meditative,” Puchlov said.

5. It Teaches Discipline and Goal Setting 

While many fitness practices tend to focus on pushing your body to its limits during every workout, one of the main focuses at SKC is setting small and obtainable goals. While kids will be getting an effective workout, they won’t get burnt out because they’ll reach small milestones over the course of the program versus trying to do anything too physically daunting too quickly. 

And even though kettlebell training teaches consistency and goal setting, our workouts still change every day, so kids won’t get bored with the same old routine. 

Click here sign your kids up today! 

-Camille Borodey