Encouraging children to exercise is one of the best things a parent can do for their child. Exercise isn’t just about keeping the weight down and preventing diseases as we get older, it’s much more than that and sometimes I’m left to wonder whether people actually realise this.
Sport has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. I was encouraged by family, friends and my school to participate in sporting activities. I swam, ran, played touch football, basketball and meddled in kickboxing and softball. Sport was always there. No one tried to tell me that I shouldn’t be doing something because I was (a) young or (b) a girl; two things which I think often find get used to prevent people from doing something.
Last weekend two eight year old girls had a sparring at a local PCYC (Police Citizens Youth Club), both girls enjoy kickboxing and their parents and friends supported and cheered as they had their first fight in the ring. Dressed in helmets, pads, gloves and cute pink outfits, the girls ended the fight with a tie. The next day the media had their panties in a twist.
The comments on the radio, television and in the newspapers were mixed though I was appalled by the reaction of some parents and the government. Many were against these two girls, or any young girls, practising martial arts like kickboxing claiming it was brutal and not right for eight year olds to fight. Now if it were two boys, I’m sure the reaction would be much different.
The government now wants to regulate contact sports for young people. They don’t believe that girls as young as eight should be taught how to fight or take part in sports like kickboxing. However, what they don’t seem to take into consideration is all the other sports that cause much more harm to children than a bit of kickboxing in a controlled environment will. Gymnastics and ballet cause havoc on the body due to the rigorous training and diet. Football players are tackled in training and in games on a daily basis which can cause serious injury. But now one objects because these are more socially accepted activities.
Australia has a huge obesity problem. It’s on par with America which is surprising considering the environment and the fact that there seems to be a personal trainer on every street and half a dozen gyms in each suburb, every school has a playground, football field, basketball court and many now have their own pools too. But people are getting fatter, children are getting fatter and that’s costing lives and money. Which is why I’m so shocked that the government would try to attempt to prevent young kids doing something like kickboxing which is a fantastic all over body workout that burns fat and can keep kids and adults fit.
I watched a short interview with the young girl and her father after the boxing match and she didn’t have anything on her face but a smile. You could see that she enjoyed the sport and the fact that she could spend a large amount of quality time with her father, John Wayne Parr, who is a kickboxing world champion. It’s a bonding activity for them both and something the girl obviously enjoys doing. I don’t think that is something that the government or any other person should be interfering with. I’d be more concerned with the parents who feed their children burgers and fries for dinner most nights, or those who fill their kid’s lunchboxes with chips, cookies and cans of coke.
Do you think that the government should regulate the type of sport children can and cannot take part in?
What about eating habits, should schools ban junk food from lunchboxes and canteens?
