Exercise for tweens/teens before school? Difference?

[matrips]

my kids are 12, almost 13 and keeping them on task and motivated during the school day is an ever-increasing challenge. 

 

We'll get a mini-experiment next week when swim team moves to the mornings because of the public schools having Thanksgiving break.  But who has tweens/teens that exercise before school and do you notice a difference with their attitude and attention?  Any tips?

[Rosika]

It works here!!

 

The only tip I have is probably kid specific, but I'll share it anyway. 

 

I used to want them to come home from practice ... shower while I made lunch ... eat, then do school. That proved to be too much time between exercise and school to be of significant benefit. 

 

What we do now is come home from practice ... eat a quick lunch (15-20 min.) ... school ... then shower once school is done. 

[hellen]

My almost 13 year old swims four morning per week. It requires making a new routine. I don't think there is a big change from last spring when there no swim. The biggest difference is Friday which is a non swimming day. We all view it as a day off but we shouldn't. It just feels so nice to not wake up early for swim, we just want to continue that laziness.

[rebbyribs]

My kids are a bit younger, but we find 15 minutes of exercise before school pretty helpful.  My 8 year-olds might do okay with swim practice before school, but my 10 year-old is just too exhausted to do much of anything after an hour of swimming.