As a physical education teacher and former daycare owner, tossed in with a side of parent, I feel I have much to say on this matter. But, if I said it all, you’d be running for the hills.  I had volunteered to write this for Connie and I had an idea where I wanted it to go.  And, then something happened, something that turned my story slightly, not much but a little.

So, exactly what is it that I’m thinking about? I know, as most many Americans do, the importance of physical activity and staying interested in physical activity way after we outgrow the games and sports of physical education class.  When we owned a daycare, my focus was on play, play, play and play some more.  And, while playing the teacher’s job was to find a way to weave in educational ideas without boring the children to tears.

Preschoolers especially need to move and learn because asking them to sit and do paperwork is totally out of the question. As children age, there’s no reason that has to stop.  Many physical education teachers get caught up in athletics and that doesn’t do much for encouraging children to pursue a lifetime of activity.  Our physical education teachers and our classroom teachers can work together to make the most of it all.  Jumping jacks done by counting by 5’s instead of 1’s, sit-ups counted with the answers to multiplication facts or as answers to the capitals of states are just a few of the ideas I incorporated in my classes.

So, I had planned to continue my story along those lines with examples of how I taught my own classes. However, watching as my over-exhausted son passed out cold tonight, I knew, I had an opportunity to show you what extensive play can do for your children rather than telling you.

At the prompting of our son’s therapist (long story why we are there, nothing to do with play), we put our 4-year-old back in daycare. He naps there each day so bedtime is sometimes a little bit difficult as the 6-year-old who has spent an active day at kindergarten is tired and sleepy, but the 4-year-old still has a couple of hours of play left in him. So most nights, it’s a battle of the wills.

However, yesterday, it was hot and muggy and our kids played 2 baseball games, right in the heat of the day, 10:30 and Noon. We were all exhausted when the last game ended.  Well, I say all, my children were still raring and ready to go.  We made a stop by a fast food restaurant with some of the other children and let the kids play for another hour or so.  I just knew that would do it.

But no, not a chance.

Once we were home, the kids had my mom pull out the bouncy house and play commenced well into the evening hours. A bath and a late bedtime at my mom’s coupled with another full of outdoor play today and within a few short minutes of lying down to watch a cartoon tonight, a good 2 hours before bedtime, the 4-year-old fell fast asleep. No fights, no arguing, just a sound sleeping little 4-year-old.  Nothing like some hard fought time in the sand and sun to make one sleep like a baby.

Adults should learn this technique.

Jerri Ann

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This entry was posted on Friday, May 1st, 2009 at 1:50 pm and is filed under Children. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.