Wednesday, 08 February 2012

• Physical Activity For Children

  

  One thing that I really want to do differently from my parents is stress the importance of physical activity.  My mom didn't start exercising until I was in high school and that was only because she wanted to lose weight, not because it is the heart healthy thing to do.

  We have them at The Little Gym for a combined age class tumbling/gymnastics class.  We got into gymnastics because it was the activity starting at the youngest age in Charleston, and we needed that outlet since the girls were always with me or with a nanny--I wanted them to get used to having authority figures other than me or the nanny.  Caroline and Isabel LOVE the class.  I'm looking forward to where Caroline gets old enough where I can take them to the class that has the older children in it, more kids in this class are Caroline's age.  But the instructors are great at taking Isabel aside and doing more advanced things with her.

  Garrick runs.  He has taken the girls in the double jogging stroller but when it comes PT time for the Army, he has to leave the stroller at home because let's face it, his time slows down when he's pushing 60 extra pounds and jogging.  He can't wait until the twins are old enough to hold their head straight enough to start taking them while the older girls are napping.  He runs several times a week.

  Me.  I'm more musical inclined.  I grew up playing piano (one year of lessons but continued to play and can play quite well) and flute.  Took dance lessons for two years.  Quit playing tee-ball after one year.  Never attempted soccer or tennis.  Couldn't run a mile in high school without stopping and slowing down to finish it up walking.  This is not something I'm proud of.  I'm just not athletic.  But in the past two years, I have found out that I do LIKE dance aerobics, whether it be Zumba or a variation of it, as long as it's dance aerobics.  I did try a spin class last Friday and I do LIKE that too.  As a child one thing I enjoyed doing over the summers was riding my bike.  And spin is stationary bike BUT with awesome music and increasing the work out by adjusting tensions.  So I'm going to try to do spin once a week, probably on Fridays.  Not ready to give up dance aerobics since we work the entire body, squats, quads, abs, arms, planks, push ups, crunches etc... and spin is entirely legs, no upper body. 

  Anyway, I was considering introducing soccer to the girls when Caroline was old enough to participate too.  It wouldn't be fair for her to be dragged to Isabel's practices and matches and torture for her to just watch and not participate.  She always wants to do what Isabel is doing.  However, Isabel has been asking to play tennis.  They do start lessons at age 3 at our leisure center.  I love that she is showing an interest.  I had considered taking lessons as an adult beginner, but this would be the first summer I haven't been pregnant in 4 years.  I also am not interested in playing in a league or anything like that, and I don't have a friend to play leisurely with, so it just doesn't make sense to take lessons.  But I have never mentioned it to Garrick or around the kids.  So, I think it is SO neat that Isabel thinks this is something she wants to do.  We DON'T watch tennis on TV, so I'm not sure where the influence is coming from.

  I can't wait to see what else Caroline expresses an interest in, and I can't wait to see what the twins  -Caitlyn Joy and Anna Grace get into.

  Are you getting your children interested in physical activity at an early age?

  What activities do they enjoy?

   

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