What is this World-Wide Movement Against Movement?

Debbie Hatch  |  Family & F.I.T.

Run!!!! Run!!! Run!!!

Run!!!! Run!!! Run!!!

 

It’s almost Halloween!  Ghost, goblins, and all manners of ghoulish aberrations abound.  One of the scariest things I’ve seen recently, though, is this apparent world-wide movement against movement.  It’s not new but it’s been “in my face” this morning.  I’ve been reading through my newsfeed for the last hour and I’ve come across the straw that broke this camel’s back!

 

My nice, supportive, coaching self wants to say (politely), “Yes.  These are problems. Please.  Please help yourself.  Please help your children.”  My directive, “I’m tired of seeing this”, frustrated self wants to scream, “Right?!  We need to get off our damn, collective, asses.  We NEED to move!  We NEED to get our children moving!  We need to do it NOW.”

Let me start back at the beginning and fill you in

 

Three articles.  Three points each.  Three strikes and I’m out!

 

As I said, there was this camel, and a straw, and, well….

 

The articles are well-written and I recommend you take the time to read them all, individually.  They are about the “family” in Family & F.I.T.  They run the gamut from daycare through gramma.

 

The first article is about Wodapalooza, a functional fitness competition (think Crossfit) where “world-class athletes are invited to compete on the basis of their abilities, or perhaps on the basis of their sponsor relationship.”   In my own words, the gist of the article is this:

  • After the invited athletes are on board, other participants can register and compete in a qualifying round.  These people compete in six workouts over a three week period. The top 25 males and top 25 females qualify to compete, right alongside the invited athletes.
  • Participants who are 50 and over, though, are treated differently than everyone else.  They, too, have to complete the qualifying round but the exercises are modified.  Can I remind you:  this is an elite competition which, in every other category, means it’s limited to only the best of the best.  No modification.  No adjustment. If you don’t make the cut, you don’t compete.
  • AND…and, here’s the kicker….even after the individuals who are over 50 complete the qualifier, they are then placed into a lottery and selected randomly for spots at Wodapalooza.  Coach McCarty explains it this way:  “Imagine a radio station contest where the person who is able to keep their hand physically touching a brand new Dodge Durango wins the car. One by one, people give up, let go and go home. If I keep my hand on the Durango for three days while all the other contestants drop out, and then I have to be caller nine to actually win the car, what was the point of the competition part to begin with? Why compete, when the actual results are left to a game of chance?”

 

My thoughts.

I am over 50. I am a grandmother (X3). I am not ready to talk about rocking chairs.

I am over 50. I am a grandmother (X3). I am not ready to talk about rocking chairs.

 

 

There may be 99 reasons why I can’t complete a certain physical task.  Age ain’t one of them.  If I’m

competing (and it is not, nor should it be, a goal for everyone) I do want to compete against people who are at the same stage of life.  I do not; however, want lowered standards.  Let me do what I can do.  If it’s enough, cool.  If it’s not, either I work harder to prepare for the next competition, or someone else gets “my” slot.

I’m “old”.  I’m not DOA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The  second article comes with a slight disclaimer.  I do not agree that (all) boys are more drawn to “speed, balls, and combat” while it is (only, or even “mostly” –  my words, not the author’s) girls who are drawn to gymnastics.  This article reports one Toronto school’s trepidation in allowing children on the playground to (actually) play.  In my own words:

  • Several students, ages 10 – 12, at the Toronto school have recently taken to doing back bends, cartwheels, handstands, and bridges on a grassy patch of the playground.
  • Concerned that enthusiasm for these challenges has been on the rise, and the fact that, according to the principal, “the staff are not comfortable with the level of risk”, children at the school are no longer allowed to partake in these dangerous activities.
  • It’s not an outright ban.  “The policy, broadcast through the school during morning announcements, merely insists that a ‘trained spotter’ be present.”  Alas, with no such trained individuals on hand during recess, the activities are – without being “banned” – in fact, banned.

 

My thoughts.

This is my granddaughter. I hope she is flexible and strong al of her life. I support this dangerous activity.

This is my granddaughter. I hope she is flexible and strong all of her life. I support this dangerous activity.

 

Our bodies are made to move!!  That’s not just some trite saying.  Our bodies are, literally, made to move!  A babies skeleton has over 300 pieces!  An adult human has 206 bones and about 640 muscles all connected by tendons and ligaments.  Sadly, many adults grow into very sedentary lives and we see its toll.  Everywhere!  We sit in our cars to drive to work.  We sit at our desks for 8 – 12 hours each day.  We sit in our cars to drive home, and then sit for dinner, sit for television/computer time, and go to bed.  Repeat.  While this lifestyle is not good for us – – can anyone, anyone at all provide one shred of evidence to the contrary?  It’s not good for us…and we should save our children from this fate for as long as we possibly can!

 

Developing bodies need movement even more than adult bodies do.  There are thousands of studies showing this.

 

 

 

 

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Strike three which caused me to get “out” of FB and write this blog.  This post, by a pediatric occupational therapist, chronicles the decline of play at daycare.  In my own words,

  • We have an obsession these days with academic success and act as though that means children need to sit.  The need to read.  They need to be read to.  They need to go to school as soon as they possibly can and they need to focus (predominately if not entirely) on all manner of academics.
  • Of course we all want our children to be as smart as possible.  Of course I believe (very much!!) in reading to our children, and teaching them to read.  My son and I, my grandchildren and I, have had reading rituals for a very long time.  I buy “educational” toys and I AM a teacher.  Here’s the thing, though.  Children learn via play!  They learn about themselves, their bodies, movement patterns, and senses; about the world around them, about interacting with others  – – by playing.
  • Research continues to point out that young children learn best through meaningful play experiences, yet many preschools are transitioning from play-based learning to becoming more academic in nature.  As parents and teachers strive to provide increasingly organized learning experiences for children, the opportunities for free play – especially outdoors is becoming less of a priority. Ironically, it is through active free play outdoors where children start to build many of the foundational life skills they need in order to be successful for years to come.”

 

My thoughts.

This is my youngest (for the time being) grandson. He runs everywhere. He's always exploring and on this day we were learning about what happens when you throw rocks into the water. :-)

This is my youngest (for the time being) grandson. He runs everywhere. He’s always exploring!  On this day we were learning about what happens when you throw rocks into the water. 🙂

 

Young children are “scientists”.  They have a natural curiosity.  They want to know how things work.  If we ensure they are safe but leave them alone and let them figure things out, they WILL be smarter.  They will learn physical, emotional, and social skills:  ALL of which are required to succeed in our world.

 

Check out this video of my youngest boy.  Can you tell me he’s not learning something (multiple things, actually) in this day of play?

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The bottom line?  Movement should be our goal for life. 

L.I.F.E.

From pregnancy, through day care and elementary school.  From raising our children, through old age, and into the coffin (or whatever means of disposal you personally have planned for what is your human form).

L.I.F.E.

Not just for 12 weeks, for the summer, only until you reach a certain age, or merely for a competition.

3 comments

  1. Wow, this is amazing. You look great, by the way.You have totally inspired me. Thanks!!

    1. Awesome!!!!!!! Thank you so much.

  2. I agree wholeheartedly. A sedentary lifestyle can accelerate age-related muscle mass loss (sarcopenia) so I want to keep moving at my age. It’s so important at every age.

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