Kareena Kapoor Khan has enrolled Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi in a Mumbai gym

This gym, at which Kareena Kapoor Khan has enrolled her son Taimur Ali Khan, is aimed at helping children develop physically, cognitively and emotionally through physical activities.

By: Upneet Pansare | | Updated: January 30, 2018 11:50 am

Excuse us if we have been fawning over Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi a little too much these days. Can you blame us? As if those cherubic cheeks, mischievous light eyes and pink lips weren’t enough, his antics with his equally famous buddies Yash and Roohi (Karan Johar’s twins) and his star uncle, Ranbir Kapoor, make him THE most popular star kid of today. Recently, Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi was spotted at a children’s’ gym, My Gym in Bandra, Mumbai. Clearly, his mum Kareena Kapoor Khan wants to make sure Taimur is active and healthy right from the tender age of one.

So what does this gym do? My Gym is a children’s fitness centre for kids from 6 weeks of age. According to their website, the ‘state-of-the-art’ facilities at My Gym help kids ‘gain strength, balance, coordination, agility and flexibility while developing social skills, confidence and self-esteem’ through activities like tricycle riding, karate, skipping, football and many other the games/challenges/tasks. Here are some yoga poses your kids will love.

Is it necessary for young kids to join fitness centres?
Taimur isn’t just any other kid. Being a celeb kid comes with its own set of challenges—being followed around by paparazzi all the time or being written out even when they perform the mundane-st of activities (no better example than this article!). And this is why it’s difficult for star kids like Taimur to lead ‘normal’ lives that includes playing in a regular public park. But what about the rest of us? Should we send our kids to such well-equipped facilities with ‘expert trained staff’? Will these kind of kids’ gyms, in any way, give them more advantage than just playing in regular parks?
Dr Asmita Mahajan, consultant neonatologist and paediatrician at SL Raheja Hospital, (a Fortis Associate), doesn’t think so. “As a parent, you needn’t enrol your kid in such gyms or fitness centres. I would rather have them play in the natural outdoors. Any kind of outdoor activity is enough. Anything that takes them away from screens and gets them moving outside the home is good. Also, whether it is at a fitness centre or at home or at a park, you need to make sure that you’re not forcing your kid to take up any activity. It should be something that the child should enjoy and that is age-appropriate. For instance, the Academy of Pediatric guidelines do not recommend walkers. Children walk when their muscles are ready for it. A 6-month-old shouldn’t be forced to sit upright. Parents need to remember that kids will reach their milestones in their own time.”
The doctor also says that adult supervision is absolutely necessary to avoid untoward incidents when kids play in public areas and parks.

“Childhood obesity is a huge concern. But what overweight or obese children need is weight management, not weight loss. So you need to ensure that your kid is indulging in some kind of physical activity. If you want them to join gyms, you can consider that but only after your kid is old enough, maybe 10 years and above,” the doctor says.

So there you have it. Unless your kid has a trail of cameras following them like little Taimur has every day, you shouldn’t worry about enrolling your kids in such kids’ fitness centres.

Read: Have you seen these adorable childhood pictures of Bollywood celebs?

Image source: Instagram/@thetaimuralikhan

Published : January 30, 2018 11:35 am | Updated:January 30, 2018 11:50 am

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