Qualities parents should look for in youth-specific fitness programs/trainers:
*Programs should meet youths’ individual physiological needs and match personal activity patterns.
*Trainers should have nationally recognized certification.
*Trainers should have specific experience training youth.
*Trainers should use positive, not negative, reinforcement.
*Trainers should integrate creativity into workouts to sustain children’s interest and participation.
*Trainers should show tolerance when working with youths.
*Trainers should offer a balanced combination of strength, cardio and core exercises.
*Trainers should emphasize safety and refrain from building up youth’s resistance or repetition levels at an unnatural pace.
*In addition to fitness, trainers ideally should also be knowledgeable about nutrition.
