Last week when my niece was waiting for swim lessons to begin she looked up at me and said something like, "my tummy looks like this because I eat so much." I was taken back when she said that. I didn't think a five-year-old would notice their tummy and make a comment as if they were almost self-conscious about it.
Sure, little girls at the age of five come in all shapes and sizes, but they're little. Their bodies have barely even started coming into their own, and there is still so much time for their bodies to change. To me, she looks like your basic five-year-old little girl. A cute, little, round tummy. It's not like she's some obese kid, she looked like an average five-year-old. It made me sad to think that maybe she thought she was fat or something. I don't want her thinking that way at all.
I almost wonder if she has overheard too much about my fitness routines and my eating habits that maybe she feels like she needs to be on these crazy routines and have the same mind set I have right now.
I would hope that isn't the case.
However, even though there isn't a problem with her at all. I think it is important that around this age that kids do start learning about fitness. Fitness and wellness are something kids should be educated about. I'm not saying they need to start TRX training, HIIT and Les Mills tomorrow, but they should at least learn about how walking for 30 minutes a day is healthy, or playing sports benefits not only their social skills but their health and wellness as well.
Gym and health classes at schools, I think, should be slowly incorporating it into their curriculum. Learning about why eating your veggies is good for your body and isn't just something mom and dad want you to do is important.
Learning about why the mile run isn't just a crappy thing your gym teacher is trying to torture you with, and it is about learning where you are at, and possibly being able to strive for a first fitness goal, is a good idea.
So even though my little five-year-old niece thinks there may be an issue with her tummy, we should reassure kids this young that they are perfect just the way they are. However, maybe it isn't a bad idea to be teaching them about how to be healthy and start learning about being active in a happy and healthy way.