Family Fitness in Philly: Training With Your Kids at The Best Gym
Jorge Silva · 2026-05-31
Most gyms either treat kids as an afterthought (a daycare room) or build an entire kids-only franchise. We do neither. At The Best Gym, the kids and teens class runs at 5 PM every weekday — slotted in between the morning adult block and the 6 PM evening adult classes. Here's how it works.
What we coach kids on (and what we don't)
The kids and teens block is not a mini version of the adult program. We're not putting 11-year-olds on a back-squat progression. The kids program covers:
- Movement quality first. Bodyweight squats, lunges, push-ups, hangs, jumps. Get the patterns clean before adding load.
- Coordination and athleticism. Agility ladders, medicine ball throws, single-leg balance. Athletic development that transfers to whatever sport they play (soccer, basketball, jiu-jitsu, dance).
- Discipline and timing. Showing up on time, listening to the coach, completing the set even when it's hard. Habits matter more than reps at this age.
- Light load when ready. Older teens who've mastered the patterns move into goblet squats, dumbbell rows, push-ups with chains, etc.
What we don't do
- Heavy 1-rep max attempts. Growth plates are still open. We don't risk it.
- Sport-specific overuse. If your kid is a year-round pitcher, we won't add more shoulder volume on top.
- Adult intensity metrics. RPE, percentages, peaking blocks — not relevant at 11. We coach them like 11-year-olds, not mini adults.
When to start your kid
Honest answer: between ages 9 and 16, anytime. Younger than 9 they need play, not gym. Older than 16 and they're basically training as adults anyway.
If your kid plays a sport, the gym is supplemental — not a replacement. We'll schedule around their season so we're building strength in the off-season and maintaining during the season.
How the family schedule works
Most of our families do one of three patterns:
- Parent + kid same hour: kid joins the 5 PM block, parent joins the 6 PM block. One car trip covers both.
- Parent + kid different days: kid trains M/W/F at 5, parent trains T/Th/Sat in the morning. Lower friction for parents who already train at a different time.
- Mom + multiple kids: one parent on a 4-day adult plan, two kids on the 5 PM kids block. We bill the household as one — see the next section.
How family billing works
Each family member has their own plan and weekly fee, but you pay once. Jorge or the front desk records the cash/Zelle/Venmo as a single transaction that covers everyone in your household. No more "did I already pay for Joshua this week?" confusion. Book a free assessment and we'll set the family up in one visit.
What we've seen
Kids who start at 11 with movement quality work and stick with it through high school become absurdly strong adults. Not "high school football strong" — actually strong. We've had teens deadlift bodyweight ×2 cleanly at 16. We've had kids who started anxious about gym class win their school's fitness test by 13.
It's not magic. It's 4 years of clean reps with a coach who pays attention. The same protocol we use on our adult members.
If you're thinking about starting your kid, the first step is a free assessment for them. We'll do a movement screen, talk about their sport (if any), and write a starter program. Claim your spot.