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Personal Trainers for Kids
July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT

Kids are under pressure these days to succeed in everything they do. Nowhere is that more evident than on the playing field. But, to gain an extra edge some kids and teenagers are paying the price, literally. According to the latest figures, nearly one million kids (some as young as six) are now relying on personal trainers to shape up. Trainers can be expensive, between ten and 75 dollars per hour. But, experts say, for those who can afford it, the benefits are often more than just physical. Jon Crosby, a personal trainer says "the first thing that any kid is gonna benefit from the most, right off the bat, is their confidence and self-esteem level. That's gonna shoot through the roof."
Still, other experts warn that parents who are paying big bucks for their child's trainer have to ask themselves: am i doing this for my child or myself? Dr. George Williams, a psychologist, adds that "sometimes the parents wants are what gets intermingled in there. So parents will want their kid to be a star in a given area versus, just let them play." So, experts say parents really need to listen to their child. Dr. Crosby confirms that "they need to be a kid first, but if they want to improve on what they can do, then they need to go a place that's got positive reinforcement, that can give them good advice on things that they want to improve upon."
Some experts worry that the trend to pay for personal trainers will put underprivileged kids at a disadvantage on the playing field. However, often a dedicated child can find a coach, or older athlete who may be willing to help them out for free.

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