ARLINGTON — CrossFit has a reputation for being tough, but yes, kids can do it.

“Fitness can be fun,” CrossFit coach Dawn Benson said.

CrossFit — an exercise program and a competitive sport that incorporates Olympic weight lifting, gymnastics, calisthenics and other exercises — has an option for kids.

“Hopefully when growing up, they can adopt a healthier lifestyle,” Benson said.

Benson coaches “CrossFit kids” at the Pilchuck CrossFit in Arlington. So far it’s been met with positive feedback from kids and parents since she started it in May.

“They love it,” Benson said. “They give me hugs and high fives and say, ‘You’re my favorite coach.'”

She finds it amusing when she hears parents’ kids saying how sore they are the day after, and show other kids what they have learned.

“Kids will show other kids on the playground what a burpee is,” she said.

Benson formed the idea for a kid version after noticing kids copying their parents’ Crossfit movements as they were in the waiting area.

It’s how fitness should be. “It’s something fun and not something you have to do,” she said. Since she started, it’s been growing steadily with a consistent group of kids from ages 4 to 10 during her class she runs two days a week. They have been able to build off of the skills they have learned.

“We get new kids all the time,” she added.

And of course it benefits the parents. “Parents love it because their kids are a little more tired out at the end of the day,” Benson said. “It’ll help them with their coordination and make them more aware of their bodies.”

Corri Kachele, a member at CrossFit and the mother of Aiden and Connor, has said her kids have liked the class. “The kids learn exercises and have fun, but they’re also learning movements that help them throughout life,” Kachele said. “Like squatting so they don’t hurt their backs while lifting things.”

It’s all her two kids do during the summer. “It’s the only sport they really look forward to going to,” Kachele added.

Jodi Hopkins has been with CrossFit for three years. Her son Jason has also been liking it.

“He’s always wanted to CrossFit with us,” she said. “He’s happy to get out of the house and be with friends, and he also sleeps better.”

She added, “The kids are happy when the class is over and leave in a good mood.”

The kids class follows the basic CrossFit setup. Things start with a warm up, they learn a new skill, do the workout and then play games.

Benson says she notices kids helping out each other, especially the newcomers, which adds to the “team camaraderie.”

Benson is cautious with the kids lifting weights, as it’s probably a natural concern of the risks of injury. She has kids learning the proper motor patterns when it comes to lifting, but uses PCP pipes rather than a loaded barbell.

“I don’t want to force them into something they are not ready for,” Benson said.

Pricing is relatively cheap, kept in mind for single parents.

“I don’t want money to be the issue,” Benson said.