In the past my son’s school had a “Race Chase” day where they would raise money for a local children’s hospital and have foot races etc. This year they wanted to do something a little different and focus healthy habits. I’m an adult cardiologist and struggling crossfitter, so haven’t worked in professional manner with children and I haven’t been to a CF Kids cert. I was asked to participate because my son attends the school and my profession. The local YMCA staff is going to man some stations that will be active and informational. Before they break up to go to the stations I will get 20 minutes with them all together to talk about heart health and exercise. There will be two groups K to 2nd and 3rd to 5th. I suspect the message could be tailored for both groups as there will be different knowledge base. What I don’t want to do is just stand up and talk to them like they are adults. I think that would turn into a missed opportunity.
I would greatly appreciate any advice or suggestions on how to reach out to the kids and make it useful for them.
With K-5th graders as your audience you are definitely going to need to keep it FUN. I’m not sure talking about heart health to that group would go over too well. Best angle to take is explaining how just playing and having fun can be exercise. No need to tell the kids the medical benefits at this age.
Explaining that exercise doesn’t need to be endless boring sit-ups and push-ups… it can be a game of dodgeball, relay races, tumbling, jumping, ect. The goal for children at that age should be get them to pair exercise/fitness with FUN rather than negative connotations like work, pain, ‘till failure, ect.
Perhaps you could call down a couple handfuls of kids to play a quick game/realy as a demonstration? Perhaps GD or BBoJ have an appropriate video of a game you could show?
The goal for children at that age should be get them to pair exercise/fitness with FUN rather than negative connotations like work, pain, ‘till failure, ect.
Please. Kids at that age LOVE talking about barf . . .
They only like talking about it. Much like adults and working out. But try to get them to actually do it and they run away all grossed out.
Have you ever been to one of those auditorium gatherings where the MC, speaker or host makes the audience do actions based on certain cues? You could do that with them and the actions could be like squat into their chairs, pick up a book off the floor, reach their hands from rack position to the OH lockout, etc. mix in with diet and health talk and at the end say “there you just did some exercises!”
But really, JDG and the other CFK trainers will have good ideas. I just wanted to do both of my above assertions in the first statement in one post.
Jones have you seen any of the CF Kids series lectures on the Journal site?
If I recall correctly, this one that Mikki and Jeff gave at FilFest, “Disrupting the Supply Chain” is a great explanation of making exercise fun and covers several examples. You could use this for talking points, as well as pull ideas for demonstrations.
Jones have you seen any of the CF Kids series lectures on the Journal site?
Haven’t yet but found the category on the journal website. The Journal videos are blocked at my place of employment. Didn’t know that was there. Any particular lectures or more watch and see how you all interact with the kids?
Jones have you seen any of the CF Kids series lectures on the Journal site?
If I recall correctly, this one that Mikki and Jeff gave at FilFest, “Disrupting the Supply Chain” is a great explanation of making exercise fun and covers several examples. You could use this for talking points, as well as pull ideas for demonstrations.
Someone else asked a similar question awhile back, got a lot of good advice (not mine, the stuff from CFK HQ staff) and reported back what he did, which was really cool.
The topic was in the Health and Nutrition forum but I’ve moved it here because I think it’s a useful resource. http://www.crossfitbrandx.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/9161/
Not quite the same situation as you’re in, but it might give you some ideas.
You might want to select a couple of kids to come up and compete in a lil game- Who can do the most jump rope jumps in 1min?
Kids love to compete, rooting for each other.
And it can waste a good 5min.
Thanks for the tips. I’ve been reviewing the videos at the journal. It looks like I’m going to have less than 20 minutes and it is going to be about 300 kids at a time. I should get the final details on Monday. If it’s that many kids and a short amount of time it will have to be simple and fun. I may have to bring back “the wave” in the form of a squat or press as an “exercise can be fun” demo.
They finally gave the me final agenda and I ended up with about 5 minutes and over 800 k-5 graders! I kept it quick and to the point, eat fruit and veggies with every meal, get exercise every day - emphasis placed on exercise is fun and can be anything active and don’t smoke. They rotated through 15 stations with physical activities that were fun. Two were water stations and I got to talk with the kids more. It’s amazing what kids will ask you.
Thanks for all the tips and hints about watching the videos.
