Kids don’t do what we say.
They do what we do.
Monkey see, monkey do… and they’re watching you more than you think.
They see you sprinting between work, home, cooking, drop offs, pickups, errands, trying to squeeze “self care” into the two minutes between cleaning the kitchen and collapsing on the couch.
And they’re learning from that.
Not because you’ve done anything wrong.. you haven’t. You’re doing your best.
But kids build their definition of “normal” from what they see every day.
If “normal” is being stressed, tired, rushed, and putting your health last.. They clock that.
If “normal” is movement, energy, confidence, and you prioritising your mental and physical health… They clock that too.
And this is where it gets interesting.
Most parents worry about their kids’ screen time.
Most parents worry about their kids’ school performance.
Most parents worry about their kids’ friendships.
But the thing that underpins all of that?
How well their body moves.
How strong they feel.
How much confidence they have in themselves.
You don’t need to be shredded..
You don’t need to train 7 days a week..
You don’t need to become a “fitness parent.”
You just need to model the behaviours you’d be proud to see in them later.
At Innerbloom, we see this daily.
The teens who thrive the most?
The ones who stick at it long term?
The ones whose confidence goes from “shoulders hunched, hoodie up” to “chest up, head high”?
It’s always the kids with parents who walk the walk.
Not perfect parents.
Not fitness freak parents.
Just parents who consistently show: “I look after myself because my health matters.”
When your kids watch you train, even once or twice a week, they learn:
• It’s normal to take care of your body.
• It’s normal to carve out time for yourself.
• It’s normal to do hard things and not quit.
• It’s normal to be around positive, supportive people.
• It’s normal to move your body even when life is busy.
That becomes their foundation.
Their “baseline.”
Their version of “adulthood.”
Now let’s talk about their training
Kids and teens today move less than any generation before them.
Not because they’re lazy, but because their environment is stacked against them.
Screens. School desks. Stress.
They’re overloaded mentally and underloaded physically.
Movement isn’t just about fitness.
It’s about mental health, resilience, identity, coordination, confidence… everything.
When a teen learns to squat properly, they gain body awareness.
When a kid nails their first box jump, they gain bravery.
When they show up week after week, they gain discipline.
When they train alongside other kids and teens, they learn teamwork, friendly competition, belonging.
You can’t teach that in a lecture.
But you CAN put them in the right environment where they absorb it naturally.
When your kids train AND you train…
It creates a family identity.
Something like:
“We’re a family that looks after our health.”
“We’re a family that moves.”
“We’re a family that shows up even when life is busy.”
That becomes the story they carry into adulthood.
So if you’ve ever felt guilty taking time for yourself to train… flip that.
It’s one of the most selfless things you can do.
You’re not just getting fitter.
You’re setting the standard.
You’re showing them the version of “normal” you want them to grow up into.
And in a world where everything is trying to drag them into sedentary habits and low confidence…
That makes you the quiet leader of your family.
Not through lectures.
Not through nagging.
Just through action.
Monkey see, monkey do.
And they’re watching.
