Ever noticed how kids can spend an hour sprinting around a playground, climbing ropes, hanging upside down, and then somehow still have energy to whinge about bedtime?
Meanwhile, adults go for a 20 minute jog and suddenly need a nap, an ice bath, and the chiro.
So where’s the disconnect?
We forgot how to play.
Adults Need More “Kid Training”
When you were young, movement wasn’t “exercise.” It was a game. You weren’t thinking about calories burned or whether your glutes were firing.. you just ran, jumped, skipped, climbed.
That’s how kids build coordination, speed, agility, and resilience without even knowing it.
Somewhere along the line, adults swapped curiosity for treadmills and guilt fuelled workouts. But the truth is, your body still thrives on play.
- Try a handstand.
- Mess around with a skipping rope.
- Hang from a bar
- Balance on one foot
- Chase someone on the assault bike.
Training stops feeling like punishment when you bring the fun back in. And…. it also makes you fitter, stronger and inevitably happier!
Kids Need More “Adult Training”
On the flip side, kids need what adults are good at: structure.
They’re all energy and no plan (which is great for chaos) but not so great for long term results.
That’s why kids’ training programs (like what we do at Innerbloom Youth) teach the basics:
- How to squat properly.
- Understanding core to extremities
- How to show up consistently.
- How to listen, focus, and learn technique.
These lessons are everything, for fitness and for life. They don’t just make kids stronger now, they set them up for a lifetime of confidence and capability.
The Sweet Spot
The magic happens when both worlds collide.
Adults who loosen up and play, kids who learn discipline and structure. Both groups end up moving better, sticking with it longer, and enjoying the process more.
So next time you’re in the gym (or even out in the real world) channel your inner 8 year old. Swing on the rings. Laugh when you trip on a double under.
Enjoy the challenge.
And if your kids are training, cheer them on. They’re not just blowing off steam, they’re learning habits that will carry them well past their teenage years.
At the end of the day, it’s not “kids vs. adults.”
It’s all of us just trying to be strong, healthy humans who can run, jump, play, and handle whatever life throws at us.
