Son runs on the treadmill: to play video games, he has to walk 12,000 steps a day

by Mark Bennett

February 09, 2022

Son runs on the treadmill: to play video games, he has to walk 12,000 steps a day
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There can be endless discussions about how a child should be educated and there will always be parents with differing opinions. The only way not to make a bad mistake is to try to stick to common sense - but even in this case it is not always so obvious or simple to find the right approach. In short, there is no book for perfect parenting and there never will be, but for sure you should be able to distinguish extremely harmful behaviors from beneficial ones. But it seems that web users opinions are split on the decision of a mother to let her son play video games - but only after doing a certain amount of exercise on the treadmill. The woman explained on TikTok that the rule for her children is they can play video games but only after doing 12,000 steps a day. Of course, not all the steps have to be done on the treadmill, but physical activity and movement are a prerequisite.

Is this cruel or a good educational method?

via TikTok / themarienfam

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TikTok / themarienfam

TikTok / themarienfam

A woman who posted a video on TikTok of her son running on the treadmill drew a lot of criticism, as well as praise from other parents. The woman's method is simple: children have to walk at least 12,000 steps a day if they want to play video games over the weekend. Some interpreted this method as a real "torture" for the child, while others were positively impressed by the solution put in place by the mother to make the children get some healthy exercise.

Of course, the assumption from which this mother starts her methodology is not at all wrong: spending many hours a day playing video games produces a very sedentary lifestyle, which is not in the least beneficial to the health of youngsters.

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TikTok / themarienfam

TikTok / themarienfam

The woman, whose "themariefam" TikTok account states she does not want her children to have health problems later on in life and, as tough as it may seem, 12,000 steps a day are what a small child need every day for a healthy lifestyle. Indeed, to tell the truth, a small child should walk between 13,000 and 15,000 steps a day, while a teenager should do up to 11,000 and 12,000 steps.

The mother, however, does not force anyone and allows her children choose: if they want to play they can walk up to 12,000 steps and if they don't want to play, they simply won't do this. "My children can make their own decisions," she said firmly.

What do you think of this solution?

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