- Practical, real-world advice; lots of easy-to-follow tips
- Comprehensive--relevant to families with kids of all ages and skill levels
- Quick read with positive, upbeat tone
- Covers a lot of ground, so some areas get only cursory coverage
- Meal plans are kid-friendly, but not particularly creative or fresh
- Includes fitness guidelines for kids ages 6-12, with specific notes on abilities and recommended activities
- Offers buying guides for kids' sports equipment (baseballs, bats, gloves, soccer cleats, tennis racquets)
- Describes common sports injuries, plus how to prevent and treat them
- Includes nutritional information specific to kids: Calorie and protein counts, serving sizes, and meal plans
- Briefly lists suggestions for fitness activities families can do together
- Discusses youth sports from the perspective of both parents and coaches
I interviewed Dr. Rob Gotlin for my series on sportsmanship and was pleased to have the chance to review his book as well. As a dad, doctor, and coach, Gotlin really knows his stuff, and it shows. While he is alarmed about the rapid rise of childhood obesity in the U.S., he shows parents that there are many simple ways to make the lifestyle changes kids need to grow up healthy.
In chapters on coaching, safety, and even the dangers of steroids and alcohol abuse, Gotlin addresses tough topics the way a good parent does: With loving, but firm guidance. He reminds us that while exercise is critically important, "too much activity also has its downfalls," most often in the form of injury. Since Gotlin is a sports medicine specialist, the chapter on injuries is especially strong (although occasionally, the level of detail on anatomy becomes overwhelming).
Gotlin also teams up with nutritionist Toni Colarusso, RD, to offer advice on healthy eating for kids and families. Almost half the book is devoted to meal plans, calorie counts, recipes, and other nutritional information. I loved the idea of substituting the term "power foods" for "healthy foods" and also the suggestion of sports-specific meal plans: "Home-Run Breakfast," "Hat-Trick Lunch," "Nothin'-but-Net Dinner." However, if you're already feeding your kids a fairly healthy diet, you won't find much in the way of new ideas here. Suggestions include such typical kid fare as cold cereal with fruit for breakfast or a turkey sandwich with a side of carrots for lunch.
Still, I know I'll turn to this book often as my kids grow and try different sports. Equipped with Dr. Rob's guide, I'm ready to coach them to make healthy choices for lifelong health and fitness.
