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Post by trippyalien on Apr 14, 2018 19:26:01 GMT -6
I have a 7 year old step daughter whose mom passed down her old Fitbit to her. I am a little scandalized because I just want her to be a kid without projecting all the fitness and body issues that are inevitably coming way before it ever occurs to her.
I was just putting her to bed (H usually takes the lead with it but had run out) and realized she sleeps with it too. I talked her out of it because I thought it might be distracting and thought it was unnecessary, but am I being over the top being uncomfortable with this?
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Post by GhoatMonket on Apr 14, 2018 19:28:31 GMT -6
With only that context, yes, you are being quite OTT about it.
Did she give it to her because she told her that she's fat and needs to lose weight? Then it's a problem. For a kid to have an activity goal for the day? Nah.
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wasabi
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Post by wasabi on Apr 14, 2018 19:29:02 GMT -6
My 7 year old has asked multiple times for a Fitbit. I don’t have one or even talk about weight issues in front of her, so it’s not necessarily a thing tied to her mom pushing those issues on her. Maybe she just asked and her mom was like, sure have this one?
As long as she isn’t showing signs of taking it too seriously I wouldn’t give it too much thought.
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Post by sheilathetank on Apr 14, 2018 19:31:01 GMT -6
I think it depends on how she is viewing it. Does she see it as a cool way to track how many steps she takes or is she concerned how many calories she burns. If it's steps then I wouldn't be worried. If it's calories then yeah, I would have a good sit-down with her father about what this could mean and what you can do to mitigate any body issues.
She is 7, so I can see how she could be taking this on as a cool thing or as a way to emulate her mom.
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regal
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Post by regal on Apr 14, 2018 19:31:26 GMT -6
I feel like this might be a "not your kid, not your problem" or "my h's ex eats crackers" situation.
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tinyjoys
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Post by tinyjoys on Apr 14, 2018 19:31:51 GMT -6
I've thought many times about charging my old fitbit up & putting it on my (almost) 7 year old. Dude never seems to stop and I'm curious as to how many steps in a day he actually takes. As for the sleeping, I liked sleeping with mine, since it told me the quality of sleep I had.
Mine was just the basic one, the Flex, I think? It vibrated, but that was it. Nothing too exciting.
ETA: last school year, they were given super basic pedometers at their school fun run & he thought it was awesome to see how high he could get the number to go. He was curious as to how those would equal into distance, which had me curious, too.
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Post by GhoatMonket on Apr 14, 2018 19:35:17 GMT -6
I am looking at Garmins for DS now (also 7).
They look like they would be more fun.
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Post by thechickencoop on Apr 14, 2018 19:36:31 GMT -6
I'd ask her why she likes it. Then, you know, what pps said. DS1 is 6 and I can see him getting SUPER into the step counter if he had one. Dude loves to count. Hopefully she's using it as just a cool gadget 🤷
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Post by trippyalien on Apr 14, 2018 19:37:38 GMT -6
No, I actually have a great relationship with her mom. No eating crackers situation, I just feel like that the tracking behaviors this early might be a blurry line to issues later and her insistence about also sleeping with it on concerned me. Probably projecting my issues, which was why I asked.
Initial responses saying I am being over the top are helpful and I will be sure not to make it a big deal. I just felt a little uncomfortable with the situation and I have a lot of love for her. (We have had 50/50 custody since she was 1, so I am not new to her life)
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Post by thechickencoop on Apr 14, 2018 19:38:09 GMT -6
I've thought many times about charging my old fitbit up & putting it on my (almost) 7 year old. Dude never seems to stop and I'm curious as to how many steps in a day he actually takes. As for the sleeping, I liked sleeping with mine, since it told me the quality of sleep I had. Mine was just the basic one, the Flex, I think? It vibrated, but that was it. Nothing too exciting. ETA: last school year, they were given super basic pedometers at their school fun run & he thought it was awesome to see how high he could get the number to go. He was curious as to how those would equal into distance, which had me curious, too.Hmmmm....this has me thinking I may charge up an old one we have. I think it's a Garmin? But I could see this leading into all sorts of cool stuff now. Distance of steps, jumps, what happens if I walk backwards, etc.
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Post by sheilathetank on Apr 14, 2018 19:39:12 GMT -6
No, I actually have a great relationship with her mom. No eating crackers situation, I just feel like that the tracking behaviors this early might be a blurry line to issues later and her insistence about also sleeping with it on concerned me. Probably projecting my issues, which was why I asked. Initial responses saying I am being over the top are helpful and I will be sure not to make it a big deal. I just felt a little uncomfortable with the situation and I have a lot of love for her. (We have had 50/50 custody since she was 1, so I am not new to her life) Why does she want to sleep with it?
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Post by trippyalien on Apr 14, 2018 19:41:22 GMT -6
No, I actually have a great relationship with her mom. No eating crackers situation, I just feel like that the tracking behaviors this early might be a blurry line to issues later and her insistence about also sleeping with it on concerned me. Probably projecting my issues, which was why I asked. Initial responses saying I am being over the top are helpful and I will be sure not to make it a big deal. I just felt a little uncomfortable with the situation and I have a lot of love for her. (We have had 50/50 custody since she was 1, so I am not new to her life) Why does she want to sleep with it?
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Post by trippyalien on Apr 14, 2018 19:42:48 GMT -6
No, I actually have a great relationship with her mom. No eating crackers situation, I just feel like that the tracking behaviors this early might be a blurry line to issues later and her insistence about also sleeping with it on concerned me. Probably projecting my issues, which was why I asked. Initial responses saying I am being over the top are helpful and I will be sure not to make it a big deal. I just felt a little uncomfortable with the situation and I have a lot of love for her. (We have had 50/50 custody since she was 1, so I am not new to her life) Why does she want to sleep with it? Sorry, quote fail before. Not sure...I just didn’t want it to be distracting because she has been waking up earlier than usual these past few weekends.
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Post by GhoatMonket on Apr 14, 2018 19:43:51 GMT -6
No, I actually have a great relationship with her mom. No eating crackers situation, I just feel like that the tracking behaviors this early might be a blurry line to issues later and her insistence about also sleeping with it on concerned me. Probably projecting my issues, which was why I asked. Initial responses saying I am being over the top are helpful and I will be sure not to make it a big deal. I just felt a little uncomfortable with the situation and I have a lot of love for her. (We have had 50/50 custody since she was 1, so I am not new to her life) Why does she want to sleep with it? It tracks sleep patterns too. Most people wear them at night.
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Post by sheilathetank on Apr 14, 2018 19:45:10 GMT -6
Why does she want to sleep with it? Sorry, quote fail before. Not sure...I just didn’t want it to be distracting because she has been waking up earlier than usual these past few weekends. I think finding our why would help. For example, when I was that age I had a snap bracelet I loved and never wanted to take off even to sleep. It's possible she's taken a liking to it that has nothing to do with traxking, but everything to do with this cool new thing she has.
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Post by trippyalien on Apr 14, 2018 19:50:30 GMT -6
Sorry, quote fail before. Not sure...I just didn’t want it to be distracting because she has been waking up earlier than usual these past few weekends. I think finding our why would help. For example, when I was that age I had a snap bracelet I loved and never wanted to take off even to sleep. It's possible she's taken a liking to it that has nothing to do with traxking, but everything to do with this cool new thing she has. Good perspective, thank you. She gave it to me without complaint or resistance tonight, but I will definitely take this all into account going forward. Thank you for the point of view.
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Post by reginaphalange8 on Apr 14, 2018 19:57:55 GMT -6
No, I actually have a great relationship with her mom. No eating crackers situation, I just feel like that the tracking behaviors this early might be a blurry line to issues later and her insistence about also sleeping with it on concerned me. Probably projecting my issues, which was why I asked. Initial responses saying I am being over the top are helpful and I will be sure not to make it a big deal. I just felt a little uncomfortable with the situation and I have a lot of love for her. (We have had 50/50 custody since she was 1, so I am not new to her life) But is she actually tracking? I don't have a Fitbit so not entirely sure how you view your history but it think it shows you how many steps you take? Seems like just a cool thing to have as a kid because I assume they are more like "Wow! I walked 900 steps today!" vs. I have to walk 900 steps today or I'll get fat. Also, exercise is not all about weight.
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Pistol
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Post by Pistol on Apr 14, 2018 20:04:29 GMT -6
I am looking at Garmins for DS now (also 7). They look like they would be more fun. One if my friends has a kids version tracker (I think garmin) that her kids love. After a certain amount of steps or active minutes or something it has fireworks and her kids go crazy trying to get the fireworks.
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Post by shambam08 on Apr 14, 2018 20:04:32 GMT -6
My girls love to wear mine or DH’s. They know it tracks steps and they also love to cheat and shake it so it ups the step count. Neither one has shown any sign of correlating it with weight. They think it’s just a tool we use to keep us healthy.
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Yogurt
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Post by Yogurt on Apr 14, 2018 20:07:20 GMT -6
My 2 year old wears my old fit bit. She probably has no idea what it does, she just wants to be like mama.
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Post by CurlieWhirlie on Apr 14, 2018 20:07:44 GMT -6
My kid is fascinated with pedometers so I wouldn’t be too worried she’s tying it to body issues.
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Post by GhoatMonket on Apr 14, 2018 20:10:42 GMT -6
I am looking at Garmins for DS now (also 7). They look like they would be more fun. One if my friends has a kids version tracker (I think garmin) that her kids love. After a certain amount of steps or active minutes or something it has fireworks and her kids go crazy trying to get the fireworks. I'm always excited when I get them. Which isn't common.
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Post by trippyalien on Apr 14, 2018 20:12:45 GMT -6
Thank you ladies. Just the perspective I needed. I was being over the top and projecting and will now leave it as child curiosity.
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robot
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Post by robot on Apr 14, 2018 20:35:15 GMT -6
Honestly, I would have taken it the same way you did, so I’m happy I read this. It’s good food for thought about not projecting my own issues onto my DDs as they grow.
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msdrdg
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Post by msdrdg on Apr 14, 2018 20:35:34 GMT -6
I am looking at Garmins for DS now (also 7). They look like they would be more fun. DS has a Garmin Vivofit Jr. He loves it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2018 21:14:23 GMT -6
My guess is that she is being a kid and excited about her new grown up toy and didn’t want to take it off. Like my cousin used to sleep with his new shoes on because he was so excited about them.
I think it’s harmless unless some other messages are included.
If you just don’t want her to sleep in it, I would just say that her arm needs to breath or something. Or that the bed is only for sleep stuff.
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auburn
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Post by auburn on Apr 14, 2018 23:02:35 GMT -6
DD has begged for one since they offered as a prize at school. She’s 9.
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Post by trippyalien on Apr 15, 2018 2:27:01 GMT -6
My guess is that she is being a kid and excited about her new grown up toy and didn’t want to take it off. Like my cousin used to sleep with his new shoes on because he was so excited about them. I think it’s harmless unless some other messages are included. If you just don’t want her to sleep in it, I would just say that her arm needs to breath or something. Or that the bed is only for sleep stuff. I approached it as it would be more comfortable to sleep without it and used the fact that I always charge my Apple Watch at night and keep it off at night. Her sleep hasn’t been great lately and maybe I am looking for reasons
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cnf
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Post by cnf on Apr 15, 2018 6:39:56 GMT -6
One if my friends has a kids version tracker (I think garmin) that her kids love. After a certain amount of steps or active minutes or something it has fireworks and her kids go crazy trying to get the fireworks. I'm always excited when I get them. Which isn't common. I also love the fireworks, ha! I wear a different Garmin for everyday wear versus workouts though, so while I usually hit 10k steps it's typically between two watches, so I don't see them often.
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tater
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Post by tater on Apr 15, 2018 7:06:20 GMT -6
This isn’t a big deal. I know my DS is interested in exercise and what my Fitbit does. I do believe Fitbit is coming out with a kids tracker soon and I’m thinking about buying it for him (he is 7 for reference)..
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