05-23-2022, 11:58 AM
Home Gym Ideas For Kids
Keeping kids active is an ongoing challenge, especially in the era of smartphones and video games. Although many families build playground equipment in their backyards, some climates are too rainy, cold, or hot to allow year-round use outdoors.
Indoor gyms are an excellent solution for kids, and they can be customized to suit their age and interests. It's easy to install a few basic pieces in the corner of a playroom or the basement.
The focus for kids gym equipment needs to be a balance of fun, safety, and developmentally-appropriate activities. Some equipment choices depend on the child's age, but many items can grow with the child for at least a few years. Here are eight great home gym ideas to keep your children happy and healthy.
Small Trampolines
Trampolines are both easy and fun for children of all ages to manage. Children under the age of five will require supervision to make sure they consistently jump vertically, but once they have the hang of it, they can use it on their own.
Trampolines help build leg and core muscles and are also a good test of kids' balance. If you have more than one child using the gym, make sure they understand that only one child uses each small trampoline at one time. You may want to buy a second one if needed to avoid conflict, but make sure to keep them a few feet away from each other to avoid collisions.
Climbing Ropes
Thick ropes with a few knots in them are perfect for kids who love climbing. They provide a good workout for the entire body, especially if you increase the distance between knots over time.
Keep in mind that climbing ropes can be a challenge for kids of any age who lack the upper-body strength to do them at first. Kids may need lots of prompting to practice using it if they can't manage it the first few times. However, once they hit second or third grade, they should manage the rope like a pro.
Monkey Bars
Monkey bars are generally easier for kids than climbing ropes because kids have to move themselves sideways, not upward, and can use their swinging motion to build momentum. However, monkey bars still build excellent upper body strength and hand-eye coordination.
Monkey bars for children up to third grade should be no higher than 5 ft. off the floor to help prevent serious head injuries. If you decide to build your own monkey bars, make sure the bars are spaced no more than 1 ft. apart so your children can swing across safely.
Reviewing The Best Gymnastics Bars For Kids
Gymnastics bars are great tools for channeling children's energy into something productive and healthy. Children are known to have an endless supply of energy, and a gymnastics bar gives them the needed platform to use their energy exhaustively. Our team extensively reviewed the available gymnastics bars to bring you the finest gymnastics bars in 2022. These bars were selected based on criteria like ease of use, flexibility, and stability. Gymnastics bars are not only meant for kids that have an interest in gymnastics, but also for kids who need something to play around with at home. Kids do not require elaborate gymnastics skills to use them, but you should still always be mindful of your child's safety. Gymnastics bars create a balance between fun and exercising for kids. Also, they make for a great birthday present.
The Shiwei gymnastics bar allows kids to have fun without worrying about weight. It supports up to 330 lbs of weight and can extend to 5 feet in height, hence it can be used by almost any kid regardless of their weight or height. It’s made of fiberglass material that is lightweight yet sturdy, allowing you to move the bar easily and providing long-lasting durability. Also, it comes in both pink and blue color options, so you can pick a color that you believe would appeal to your child the most.
The Tepemccu gymnastics bar features a foldable design that makes it easy to move the unit around and also requires little storage space. The bar is easy to set up, and the heights are adjustable to five varying lengths to suit the user (maximum height at 50.8″). Plus, it supports up to 140lbs in weight, making it suitable for use by most kids. There are four anti-slip foam rings at the base that provide enhanced stability to the structure, prevent slippage, and protect the floor against scratching.
Ballet-Inspired Barre Classes
How It Works
Pliés, relevés, and sauté jumps don’t just look graceful, the ballet moves also lengthen and strengthen muscles and burn calories.
ballet-inspired classes like Pure Barre, Bar Method, and Balletone are a popular workout trend that incorporates moves from ballet, Pilates, and yoga to upbeat music.
Many gyms offer ballet-inspired fitness classes, and barre studios offer classes for overall conditioning as well as targeted workouts for abs, thighs, or glutes. There are even “barre light” classes for beginners.
You don’t need a tutu or ballet slippers. Instead, dress in comfortable workout clothes and show up to the 60-minute classes prepared to use the ballet barre to do the movements your teacher shows you.
Some classes also use small balls, resistance bands, and hand weights to do floor work. The low-impact workout focuses on proper alignment.
The classes blend cardio, strength training, flexibility, balance and core conditioning in a total body workout that targets the hips, glutes, abs, and arms.
Intensity Level: Medium
The emphasis on proper alignment, balance, and core engagement means the classes move at a slower pace. You might not leave a ballet-inspired class drenched in sweat, but you’ll feel the burn after a class thanks to moves that target specific muscle groups.
Areas It Targets
Core: Yes. You'll do a combination of ballet positions and Pilates moves to target the abs.
Arms: Yes. Classes include exercises like military presses, lateral arm raises, and triceps lifts to work the arm muscles.
Legs: Yes. Expect to perform movements like pliés, dégagé, leg lifts/extensions, and other ballet-inspired moves that target the legs.
Glutes: Yes. Targeted moves like glute raises help tone the backside.
Back: No. Ballet-inspired workouts target the whole body but do not target the back muscles, except for those that are part of your core.
Type
Flexibility: Yes. This ballet-inspired workout will gently improve your flexibility.
Aerobic: No. The barre moves are too slow to give you an aerobic workout. So unless you're in a class that includes exercises off the barre that gets your heart rate going, don't count this as cardio.
Strength: Yes. Some ballet and barre classes use weights and resistance bands, and others use your body weight to strengthen and tone.
Sport: No. It’s not a sport.
Low-Impact: Yes. There is no jumping or bouncing in barre classes, so the workout is easy on the joints.
Great Benefits of a Stationary Bike Workout
Riding a stationary exercise bike is an efficient and effective way to burn calories and body fat while strengthening your heart, lungs, and muscles.
Compared to some other types of cardio equipment, a stationary bicycle puts less stress on your joints, but it still provides an excellent aerobic workout.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of a stationary bike workout, and the kinds of workout plans that can help you reach your fitness or weight loss goals.
1. Boosts cardio fitness
Cycling is an excellent way to get your heart pumping.
Cardiovascular or aerobic workouts, such as cycling, strengthen your heart, lungs, and muscles. They also improve the flow of blood and oxygen throughout your body. This, in turn, can benefit your health in a number of ways, including:
Depending on the intensity of your workout and your body weight, you can burn more than 600 calories an hour with a stationary bike workout. This makes indoor cycling an excellent workout option for burning calories quickly.
Burning more calories than you consume is the key to weight loss.
3. Burns body fat
Working out at a high intensity helps to burn calories and build strength, which, in turn, can lead to fat loss.
A 2010 studyTrusted Source found that indoor cycling, combined with a low-calorie diet, was effective in reducing body weight and body fat in the study’s participants. It was also effective in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The participants cycled for 45 minutes three times per week, and they consumed 1,200 calories per day for 12 weeks.
4. Provides a low-impact workout
A stationary bike workout is a low-impact workout that uses smooth movements to strengthen bones and joints without putting much pressure on them. This makes it a good workout option for people with joint issues or injuries.
Your ankles, knees, hips, and other joints can be put under a lot of stress when running, jogging, jumping, or doing other high-impact aerobic exercises.
Because your feet don’t lift off the pedals with a stationary bike, this option is kinder to your joints, but it still provides a challenging and effective workout.
Magnetic Resistance vs. Other Types of Resistance for Cycle Bikes - Which is Best for You?
When looking to purchase a cycle bike, you have a wide variety of options to choose from. One of the best factors for narrowing your selection is determining the type of resistance best for you whether that be magnetic resistance, contact resistance, or air resistance. In this article we'll go over the specifics of each type of resistance, so you can make the best choice for you.
Magnetic resistance uses magnets to create tension against the flywheel. Unlike contact resistance, the magnets don't actually make contact with the flywheel. Instead, the magnetic force applies varying degrees of resistance as the magnets gets closer or further away from the flywheel. Magnetic resistance can be adjusted either by twisting a micro-tension knob or electronically through set levels on a digital monitor.
Magnets create incredibly strong forces, meaning the resistance you'll feel with a magnetic resistance bike is strong, although it can always be adjusted if you're looking for an easier ride. A magnetic resistance cycle bike is sure to provide challenge throughout your fitness journey.
Keeping kids active is an ongoing challenge, especially in the era of smartphones and video games. Although many families build playground equipment in their backyards, some climates are too rainy, cold, or hot to allow year-round use outdoors.
Indoor gyms are an excellent solution for kids, and they can be customized to suit their age and interests. It's easy to install a few basic pieces in the corner of a playroom or the basement.
The focus for kids gym equipment needs to be a balance of fun, safety, and developmentally-appropriate activities. Some equipment choices depend on the child's age, but many items can grow with the child for at least a few years. Here are eight great home gym ideas to keep your children happy and healthy.
Small Trampolines
Trampolines are both easy and fun for children of all ages to manage. Children under the age of five will require supervision to make sure they consistently jump vertically, but once they have the hang of it, they can use it on their own.
Trampolines help build leg and core muscles and are also a good test of kids' balance. If you have more than one child using the gym, make sure they understand that only one child uses each small trampoline at one time. You may want to buy a second one if needed to avoid conflict, but make sure to keep them a few feet away from each other to avoid collisions.
Climbing Ropes
Thick ropes with a few knots in them are perfect for kids who love climbing. They provide a good workout for the entire body, especially if you increase the distance between knots over time.
Keep in mind that climbing ropes can be a challenge for kids of any age who lack the upper-body strength to do them at first. Kids may need lots of prompting to practice using it if they can't manage it the first few times. However, once they hit second or third grade, they should manage the rope like a pro.
Monkey Bars
Monkey bars are generally easier for kids than climbing ropes because kids have to move themselves sideways, not upward, and can use their swinging motion to build momentum. However, monkey bars still build excellent upper body strength and hand-eye coordination.
Monkey bars for children up to third grade should be no higher than 5 ft. off the floor to help prevent serious head injuries. If you decide to build your own monkey bars, make sure the bars are spaced no more than 1 ft. apart so your children can swing across safely.
Reviewing The Best Gymnastics Bars For Kids
Gymnastics bars are great tools for channeling children's energy into something productive and healthy. Children are known to have an endless supply of energy, and a gymnastics bar gives them the needed platform to use their energy exhaustively. Our team extensively reviewed the available gymnastics bars to bring you the finest gymnastics bars in 2022. These bars were selected based on criteria like ease of use, flexibility, and stability. Gymnastics bars are not only meant for kids that have an interest in gymnastics, but also for kids who need something to play around with at home. Kids do not require elaborate gymnastics skills to use them, but you should still always be mindful of your child's safety. Gymnastics bars create a balance between fun and exercising for kids. Also, they make for a great birthday present.
The Shiwei gymnastics bar allows kids to have fun without worrying about weight. It supports up to 330 lbs of weight and can extend to 5 feet in height, hence it can be used by almost any kid regardless of their weight or height. It’s made of fiberglass material that is lightweight yet sturdy, allowing you to move the bar easily and providing long-lasting durability. Also, it comes in both pink and blue color options, so you can pick a color that you believe would appeal to your child the most.
The Tepemccu gymnastics bar features a foldable design that makes it easy to move the unit around and also requires little storage space. The bar is easy to set up, and the heights are adjustable to five varying lengths to suit the user (maximum height at 50.8″). Plus, it supports up to 140lbs in weight, making it suitable for use by most kids. There are four anti-slip foam rings at the base that provide enhanced stability to the structure, prevent slippage, and protect the floor against scratching.
Ballet-Inspired Barre Classes
How It Works
Pliés, relevés, and sauté jumps don’t just look graceful, the ballet moves also lengthen and strengthen muscles and burn calories.
ballet-inspired classes like Pure Barre, Bar Method, and Balletone are a popular workout trend that incorporates moves from ballet, Pilates, and yoga to upbeat music.
Many gyms offer ballet-inspired fitness classes, and barre studios offer classes for overall conditioning as well as targeted workouts for abs, thighs, or glutes. There are even “barre light” classes for beginners.
You don’t need a tutu or ballet slippers. Instead, dress in comfortable workout clothes and show up to the 60-minute classes prepared to use the ballet barre to do the movements your teacher shows you.
Some classes also use small balls, resistance bands, and hand weights to do floor work. The low-impact workout focuses on proper alignment.
The classes blend cardio, strength training, flexibility, balance and core conditioning in a total body workout that targets the hips, glutes, abs, and arms.
Intensity Level: Medium
The emphasis on proper alignment, balance, and core engagement means the classes move at a slower pace. You might not leave a ballet-inspired class drenched in sweat, but you’ll feel the burn after a class thanks to moves that target specific muscle groups.
Areas It Targets
Core: Yes. You'll do a combination of ballet positions and Pilates moves to target the abs.
Arms: Yes. Classes include exercises like military presses, lateral arm raises, and triceps lifts to work the arm muscles.
Legs: Yes. Expect to perform movements like pliés, dégagé, leg lifts/extensions, and other ballet-inspired moves that target the legs.
Glutes: Yes. Targeted moves like glute raises help tone the backside.
Back: No. Ballet-inspired workouts target the whole body but do not target the back muscles, except for those that are part of your core.
Type
Flexibility: Yes. This ballet-inspired workout will gently improve your flexibility.
Aerobic: No. The barre moves are too slow to give you an aerobic workout. So unless you're in a class that includes exercises off the barre that gets your heart rate going, don't count this as cardio.
Strength: Yes. Some ballet and barre classes use weights and resistance bands, and others use your body weight to strengthen and tone.
Sport: No. It’s not a sport.
Low-Impact: Yes. There is no jumping or bouncing in barre classes, so the workout is easy on the joints.
Great Benefits of a Stationary Bike Workout
Riding a stationary exercise bike is an efficient and effective way to burn calories and body fat while strengthening your heart, lungs, and muscles.
Compared to some other types of cardio equipment, a stationary bicycle puts less stress on your joints, but it still provides an excellent aerobic workout.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of a stationary bike workout, and the kinds of workout plans that can help you reach your fitness or weight loss goals.
1. Boosts cardio fitness
Cycling is an excellent way to get your heart pumping.
Cardiovascular or aerobic workouts, such as cycling, strengthen your heart, lungs, and muscles. They also improve the flow of blood and oxygen throughout your body. This, in turn, can benefit your health in a number of ways, including:
- improved memory and brain functioning
- lower blood pressure
- better sleep
- improved blood sugar levels
- a stronger immune system
- better mood
- lower stress levels
- more energy
Depending on the intensity of your workout and your body weight, you can burn more than 600 calories an hour with a stationary bike workout. This makes indoor cycling an excellent workout option for burning calories quickly.
Burning more calories than you consume is the key to weight loss.
3. Burns body fat
Working out at a high intensity helps to burn calories and build strength, which, in turn, can lead to fat loss.
A 2010 studyTrusted Source found that indoor cycling, combined with a low-calorie diet, was effective in reducing body weight and body fat in the study’s participants. It was also effective in lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The participants cycled for 45 minutes three times per week, and they consumed 1,200 calories per day for 12 weeks.
4. Provides a low-impact workout
A stationary bike workout is a low-impact workout that uses smooth movements to strengthen bones and joints without putting much pressure on them. This makes it a good workout option for people with joint issues or injuries.
Your ankles, knees, hips, and other joints can be put under a lot of stress when running, jogging, jumping, or doing other high-impact aerobic exercises.
Because your feet don’t lift off the pedals with a stationary bike, this option is kinder to your joints, but it still provides a challenging and effective workout.
Magnetic Resistance vs. Other Types of Resistance for Cycle Bikes - Which is Best for You?
When looking to purchase a cycle bike, you have a wide variety of options to choose from. One of the best factors for narrowing your selection is determining the type of resistance best for you whether that be magnetic resistance, contact resistance, or air resistance. In this article we'll go over the specifics of each type of resistance, so you can make the best choice for you.
Magnetic resistance uses magnets to create tension against the flywheel. Unlike contact resistance, the magnets don't actually make contact with the flywheel. Instead, the magnetic force applies varying degrees of resistance as the magnets gets closer or further away from the flywheel. Magnetic resistance can be adjusted either by twisting a micro-tension knob or electronically through set levels on a digital monitor.
Magnets create incredibly strong forces, meaning the resistance you'll feel with a magnetic resistance bike is strong, although it can always be adjusted if you're looking for an easier ride. A magnetic resistance cycle bike is sure to provide challenge throughout your fitness journey.