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Swinging
Last week I had the pleasure of teaching the kids at Burns Elementary School the importance of cardiovascular exercise and strength training.
The children certainly grasped the aerobic step technique, but they really enjoyed flexing their muscles during the strength training. As I worked out with the children and spoke with them, I was reminded how times have changed since I was in school. We did not have the wonderful opportunities that our children are now presented with regarding their physical education. The outdoors was our physical education.
When I was a child, I remember eating dinner at a rapid speed so that I could play with all of the neighborhood kids. My mother would tell me to slow down, but all I could think about was how much fun it was going to be playing outside with my friends. Playing outside was my salvation as a child. My only focus was to think about fun and how many trash cans I could clear without clipping them on my shoes. We used to climb trees, play hide and go seek and four square, jump fences, and run from dogs, laughing all the way. Those were the good old days.
Times have changed. Children are learning so much valuable information that will be used for a life time if they choose to do so. We certainly did not learn the importance of cardiovascular exercise in kindergarten. As I taught the children, they listened attentively, but did not seem thrilled. Maybe they would rather be outside running free through the school yard? It’s a shame that we have to worry about our children playing outside without adult supervision. Our world has changed since I was a child; we live in fear regarding our children. We do not want anything bad to happen to them, so we keep them busy with structured activities, many indoors. There is no one to blame; times have changed.
Through my week long visit with the elementary kids, I have stumbled upon what might be the cause of childhood obesity. The root of the problem that I believe causes obesity is, FEAR. Our children are living in constant fear. Children are afraid to go outside and play without an adult in sight. They are fearful that something bad might happen to them. Children are not allowed to run freely and be who they are supposed to be. They are afraid. They think a stranger may kidnap them if they are left alone outside to play. Parents are concerned for their children’s safety. Children recognize the parents fear, and all are paralyzed by it. How sad for all of us and our children. Times have certainly changed.
I went outside during a break and started to read as I felt the glowing sun warm my face. Children were led outside by their teachers and began to play on the swings in the fenced in playground. I do not recall our playground having a fence. The playground equipment was colorful and inviting to the children. As I watched the children swing, I was reminded of how often we used to swing during the summer months. A group of neighborhood kids would fearlessly walk to the park and swing for hours on end. The squeaking noise of the swings became rhythmic to us as we pushed our legs forward and back. We would hold contests to see who could jump the furthest out of the swings, as if we invented plyometric exercises.
The kids at the school reminded me of a time long ago. They were laughing and swinging and having fun. The children were not fearful, they were being children. I watched a teacher lift a little girl out of her wheelchair and place her in a special swing. The teacher had such a gentle spirit about her as she started to swing this child. My eyes became glazed and the sun became a blur as tears dampened my face. I was reminded that we live in a different time, but should not walk in fear, but in Love. Love can change the world as we know it. If we can pass on love to each other, we exchange hope for fear, and kids can be just kids.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.
1 John 4:18
Go Back...
Swinging
Last week I had the pleasure of teaching the kids at Burns Elementary School the importance of cardiovascular exercise and strength training.
The children certainly grasped the aerobic step technique, but they really enjoyed flexing their muscles during the strength training. As I worked out with the children and spoke with them, I was reminded how times have changed since I was in school. We did not have the wonderful opportunities that our children are now presented with regarding their physical education. The outdoors was our physical education.
When I was a child, I remember eating dinner at a rapid speed so that I could play with all of the neighborhood kids. My mother would tell me to slow down, but all I could think about was how much fun it was going to be playing outside with my friends. Playing outside was my salvation as a child. My only focus was to think about fun and how many trash cans I could clear without clipping them on my shoes. We used to climb trees, play hide and go seek and four square, jump fences, and run from dogs, laughing all the way. Those were the good old days.
Times have changed. Children are learning so much valuable information that will be used for a life time if they choose to do so. We certainly did not learn the importance of cardiovascular exercise in kindergarten. As I taught the children, they listened attentively, but did not seem thrilled. Maybe they would rather be outside running free through the school yard? It’s a shame that we have to worry about our children playing outside without adult supervision. Our world has changed since I was a child; we live in fear regarding our children. We do not want anything bad to happen to them, so we keep them busy with structured activities, many indoors. There is no one to blame; times have changed.
Through my week long visit with the elementary kids, I have stumbled upon what might be the cause of childhood obesity. The root of the problem that I believe causes obesity is, FEAR. Our children are living in constant fear. Children are afraid to go outside and play without an adult in sight. They are fearful that something bad might happen to them. Children are not allowed to run freely and be who they are supposed to be. They are afraid. They think a stranger may kidnap them if they are left alone outside to play. Parents are concerned for their children’s safety. Children recognize the parents fear, and all are paralyzed by it. How sad for all of us and our children. Times have certainly changed.
I went outside during a break and started to read as I felt the glowing sun warm my face. Children were led outside by their teachers and began to play on the swings in the fenced in playground. I do not recall our playground having a fence. The playground equipment was colorful and inviting to the children. As I watched the children swing, I was reminded of how often we used to swing during the summer months. A group of neighborhood kids would fearlessly walk to the park and swing for hours on end. The squeaking noise of the swings became rhythmic to us as we pushed our legs forward and back. We would hold contests to see who could jump the furthest out of the swings, as if we invented plyometric exercises.
The kids at the school reminded me of a time long ago. They were laughing and swinging and having fun. The children were not fearful, they were being children. I watched a teacher lift a little girl out of her wheelchair and place her in a special swing. The teacher had such a gentle spirit about her as she started to swing this child. My eyes became glazed and the sun became a blur as tears dampened my face. I was reminded that we live in a different time, but should not walk in fear, but in Love. Love can change the world as we know it. If we can pass on love to each other, we exchange hope for fear, and kids can be just kids.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.
1 John 4:18
Go Back...
