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18

May 2024

Last Updated: 17/05/2024

The joy of getting fit with your older kids

by John Plummer

| 18 May, 2024
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Does the thought of getting fit with your teenagers or 20-something children sound fun or fill you with dread? 

While some parents may see it as a chance to spend quality time with their older children, others couldn’t think of anything worse. And for the kids, working out with mum or dad may not be especially appealing. 

There’s definitely the potential for disaster. For anyone reaching middle age and turning perhaps to gentler ways of keeping their bodies fit and healthy, trying to keep up with a particularly energetic teen or toned 20-something gym fanatic may only remind you of what your body can’t do any more. And, if your child has inherited your competitive streak, things can get more than a little hostile.

On the other hand, exercising alongside your teenager may spur you on to push your limits or attempt exercise you wouldn’t otherwise have tried. And it works the other way too: Youngsters may be encouraged to try new forms of exercise that they find they actually enjoy. 

Photo of Trish Connor, owner of Gymophobics in Harrogate and Wetherby.

Trish Connor of Gymophobics



Trish Connor is the owner of Gymophobics in Harrogate, which runs a special Mum & Teen membership package at a discounted price to encourage joint exercise. She said: 

"Getting fit together can have lots of benefits. You can encourage each other to try new things and stretch your limits. And you get to spend valuable time together, away from the stresses of home. Added to that, of course, are all the benefits of doing more exercise generally, such as better mental wellbeing and improved brain, heart and lung health.
"At Gymophobics, we have two of each machine so mums and daughters can work out alongside each other. Quite often the mum is only coming because she wants the teen to do some exercise!"


“It’s nice they want to spend time with you” 


mums and daughters exercising together

Tamsin Moore with her daughters Montana and Atlanta Wilkinson-Moore.



Every Tuesday, Tamsin Moore, 56, and her daughters Montana, 25, and Atlanta Wilkinson-Moore, 23, meet at St John Fisher Catholic High School for a Dance Yourself Fit exercise class. It’s part of a weekly routine combining exercise and a catch-up that also includes gym sessions and a walk to Harlow Carr Gardens.

With both girls living in their own homes in Harrogate, Tamsin values the time they spend together. She said:

“It’s about doing fitness together and then we all go home and I cook for them. Atlanta has a sedentary job and goes to the gym, Montana runs and she’s got a fairly active job on her feet. When your kids leave home and are working, it’s actually nice that they want to spend time with you.” 


For Atlanta, the encouragement she gets from her mum helps her stay focused on keeping fit. She said: 

"I haven't lived at home for three-and-a-half years so it's really nice to spend that time together. Also, I've struggled with my motivation to do exercise in the past. My mum boosts my confidence and it means I don't have to do it on my own."


“It feels quite natural” 


Georgina Buck and her daughter Katherine play netball together in the Harrogate District Netball League. 

Georgina, 49, has been playing for the Vipers team for 20 years, while Katherine joined five years ago. At the time, Katherine was a student at St Aidan’s and played for school as well as in a junior league, but found the matches too competitive. She wanted to play at a good level, but just for fun - and Vipers was the perfect fit. Georgina said:  

“Our team are not hugely competitive. It’s nice to win matches but for us it’s about everybody playing together and enjoying it. Katherine was already familiar with us because I used to take her with me to matches when she was little.” 


mums and daughters exercising together

Katherine and Georgina Buck.



Georgina and Katherine both play the same positions, GK and GD, and therefore work together in the defensive circle. Katherine said: 

“I enjoy playing netball with my mum. We play in a similar style and l feel very comfortable on court with her. I also feel comfortable telling her when I think she’s doing something wrong, which I’m sure she appreciates. It’s also nice to share a common interest and spend time together doing something we both love.” 


With Katherine now at university and playing for Vipers during the holidays, mum and daughter value even more their time together playing netball. Georgina said: 

“It feels quite natural playing alongside Katherine; we instinctively know what the other is doing. I relax more when I’m playing with her, and I can tell her off a bit, which I can’t do with the other players!
“It's nice to have something to do together that's fun and completely away from all the family stuff that’s going on. There have been times when we’ve had an argument at home, then we go off to play netball and afterwards things don’t seem so bad.”






Read more



  • Free gym classes for children in Harrogate and Knaresborough this month

  • Knaresborough netballer sets second world record