I saw a post on the women's board about their 5 yo using the C2 rower... We are considering buying one for our family home gym - we homeschool our littles and are quite active (crossfit, running, weights) - since we have more than half of the year with a lot of snow here in Alberta, Canada, we are thinking this may be something we *all* could use. Is it? Can children use the c2 rower? How big do they need to be? Ours range in age from 5 mo (obviously not going to be rowing!) to almost 11 and close to 5' ...
Thanks!
Stephanie Fehler
Children and C2
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PaulS
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There's a couple of obvious pinch points that the children should be made aware of, especially as the 5mo old gets mobile and might come over to see what's going on and put a little hand on the railing. The sharp corners could easily be padded.
We have several Open Houses at our Rowing Facility each year and I've had what appeared to be about a 2yr old decide that "I do like Daddy do.", she followed directions very well and was doing fine, she kept rowing continuously for several minutes, until done, and then went along with her parents to see the rest of what was going on.
Get everyone started right and it would likely be a very nice family activity.
We have several Open Houses at our Rowing Facility each year and I've had what appeared to be about a 2yr old decide that "I do like Daddy do.", she followed directions very well and was doing fine, she kept rowing continuously for several minutes, until done, and then went along with her parents to see the rest of what was going on.
Get everyone started right and it would likely be a very nice family activity.
Erg on,
Paul Smith
www.ps-sport.net Your source for Useful Rowing Accessories and Training Assistance.
"If you don't want to know the answer, don't ask me the question."
Paul Smith
www.ps-sport.net Your source for Useful Rowing Accessories and Training Assistance.
"If you don't want to know the answer, don't ask me the question."
I have a strict rule that my kids are not allowed to play on the rowing machine slide. It is in the playroom. They seem to understand this and abide by it. When they see me row, they often want to try it too, but I row at night usually after they go to bed. My kids are 5 and 7, and I would think you need to be at least that old to really start rowing, but any older and they certainly could do it. The footbed is pretty big for a little kid.
I have rowpro and kids would definitely get more motivated racing against other kids around the world and/or entering times in the rankings etc, so that would be a good option to explore too.
I have rowpro and kids would definitely get more motivated racing against other kids around the world and/or entering times in the rankings etc, so that would be a good option to explore too.
M 51 5'9'' (1.75m), a once and future lightweight
Old PBs 500m-1:33.9 1K-3:18.6 2K-6:55.4 5K-18:17.6 10K-38:10.5 HM-1:24:00.1 FM-3:07.13
Old PBs 500m-1:33.9 1K-3:18.6 2K-6:55.4 5K-18:17.6 10K-38:10.5 HM-1:24:00.1 FM-3:07.13
Thanks for the feedback
Turns out my school board *will* reimburse for this (although she did say "you will need some curriculum too!" - if only she could see our groaning shelves!) - i'll look into the rowpro too - haven't come across that - we need something for my husband who is more fit now than when he tried out for pro football 
and me (small and had six babies so far) and the children... so i was hoping to be able to use something good enough for dh for all of us... we'll see...
and me (small and had six babies so far) and the children... so i was hoping to be able to use something good enough for dh for all of us... we'll see...There is a 4 min. challenge time that can be "ranked" in the on-line rankings. In addition, the UKForum contains a thread for a 1 min. challenge for children. The thread includes some discussion by parents about rowing for their children. You might want to take a look at that too!
Have fun.
Alissa
Have fun.
Alissa
If you go to the C2 home page, second paragraph under training, and click on on-line rankings, you will see children ranked in the listings. I checked the 500 meter, age 0-12 and there were 2 pages of children's times listed and the children ranged from 3-12. Children can also join the virtual teams. In fact you could create your own team as a family. It is lots of fun and very motivational to try and catch or pass the team in front of you.
Carol
Carol
Loonylady
Member of Ducks In A Row
Member of Ducks In A Row
I personally don't think you could be too young to erg or row (scull at least). From what I know I don't think that it does anything harmful or growth stuning etc unless you row out on the water in a sweep-oar boat before your muscles have fully developed otherwise it leads to overdevelopment of one side of the body. Ergoing is fine and is brilliant for fitness.
My children, ages 6 and 8 have been erging with me for two years now. I don't push either, and their interest is variable throughout the year. They both enjoy it, and really like the fish game. Both attempted the holiday challange this past year, each earning over 36,000m. Not enough for the tee shirt, but they still felt quite an accomplishment. They also feel proud to do something mommy does. The juniors coach at our boat house learned that my kids row on the C2 and asked to see them row. She was quite impressed by the form, strength and enthusiasm my kids row with. She can hardly wait until they are old enough to join the junior crew.
When my kids were younger, even the lowest damper setting (1), was too hard a pull for them. I placed a peice of paper partially over the remaining portion of the unobstructed screen to further decrease the resistance. That worked well for them, and the paper is light enough to stay in place on its own once the kids start rowing.
Little kids may row different amounts of time, sometimes for as long as a total of 30min, but it usually will be with small stops and rests during that time. Sometimes they decide on a time, sometimes on a distance, eg: 2000m, or sometimes on a number of fish games. I help them with a decent basic form("push with your legs, pull with your arms" in that order) and make sure they keep their backs straight, without starting with their arms or back.
We haven't had any injuries or sore muscles. I have gotten the chance to explain the concept of pacing oneself, rather than going full out on every stroke, a tendancy which is more pronounced in my son than in my daughter. They love the relatively constant mommy time they get from me as I am monitoring their workout. I do not let them row on their own, and they know that they are not to use the rowing machine without me or my husaband present. They both know how to use the monitor and set the machine up for themselves, and they understand that it is not a toy. They also know to keep those fingers out from under the seat rollers!
Pam
When my kids were younger, even the lowest damper setting (1), was too hard a pull for them. I placed a peice of paper partially over the remaining portion of the unobstructed screen to further decrease the resistance. That worked well for them, and the paper is light enough to stay in place on its own once the kids start rowing.
Little kids may row different amounts of time, sometimes for as long as a total of 30min, but it usually will be with small stops and rests during that time. Sometimes they decide on a time, sometimes on a distance, eg: 2000m, or sometimes on a number of fish games. I help them with a decent basic form("push with your legs, pull with your arms" in that order) and make sure they keep their backs straight, without starting with their arms or back.
We haven't had any injuries or sore muscles. I have gotten the chance to explain the concept of pacing oneself, rather than going full out on every stroke, a tendancy which is more pronounced in my son than in my daughter. They love the relatively constant mommy time they get from me as I am monitoring their workout. I do not let them row on their own, and they know that they are not to use the rowing machine without me or my husaband present. They both know how to use the monitor and set the machine up for themselves, and they understand that it is not a toy. They also know to keep those fingers out from under the seat rollers!
Pam
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JamesBombed
- Paddler
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My Kids are 5 and 7 and they have used my rowing machine since i got it over 2 years ago. I never ask them to do it, but sometimes they ask me. I won't let them touch it without me being there with them.
They like the fish game and the rowpro, and they like to see how they compare with other kids their age on the ranking board.
I think that a possible other risk is pushing on the seat without the feet being strapped in. Might lead to a fall onto a hard floor.
They like the fish game and the rowpro, and they like to see how they compare with other kids their age on the ranking board.
I think that a possible other risk is pushing on the seat without the feet being strapped in. Might lead to a fall onto a hard floor.
Curriculum
Yes, your children can erg at a very young age. The pinch point safety items are definitely worth paying attention to, as well.
C2 does have a school based program in which they lend ergs. That for traditional schools but they do have suggested curriculum and related ideas that may be helpful for you.
Neil
C2 does have a school based program in which they lend ergs. That for traditional schools but they do have suggested curriculum and related ideas that may be helpful for you.
Neil
Neil K.
Forest Hills, NY
Men's LW, 42 years old
Forest Hills, NY
Men's LW, 42 years old
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Snail Space
- 2k Poster
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- Joined: September 10th, 2006, 12:13 pm
- Location: Durham, UK
For children:
Put resistance lever to minimum (it can be raised gradually from age 11).
Adjust the height of the footplate until the balls of the feet are level with the top of the rail.
If they can row for 2K use the follow formula in Excel to compute an approximate pace for any specified stroke rate:
=(2Ktime/4)*((152-(SPM*2))/96))
[where 2Ktime is a reference to a cell containing the time taken to row 2K, is formatted as "m:ss.0"]
So, if it takes 12:00.0 to row 2K, the suggested pace for 20spm would be 3:30.0, and for 22spm would be 3:22.5
If they can row 1K then use "(1Ktime/2)" etc, and add up to 10 sec/500m to the computed pace.
Cheers
Dave
Put resistance lever to minimum (it can be raised gradually from age 11).
Adjust the height of the footplate until the balls of the feet are level with the top of the rail.
If they can row for 2K use the follow formula in Excel to compute an approximate pace for any specified stroke rate:
=(2Ktime/4)*((152-(SPM*2))/96))
[where 2Ktime is a reference to a cell containing the time taken to row 2K, is formatted as "m:ss.0"]
So, if it takes 12:00.0 to row 2K, the suggested pace for 20spm would be 3:30.0, and for 22spm would be 3:22.5
If they can row 1K then use "(1Ktime/2)" etc, and add up to 10 sec/500m to the computed pace.
Cheers
Dave
