P - E

So, now that the kids have almost completed their first session of Crossfit, we are looking at joining the local Y Center to add even more to the PE element of their education.  This year we are really trying to focus on a Healthy Lifestyle element, above and beyond our regular Science lessons.

In our Healthy Eating portion, the kids are learning to make healthier decisions about what they are eating and when.  They have been helping plan the menu by choosing recipes high in vitamins and minerals.  They are even starting to make 'healthier' choices for desserts, like peach or blueberry infused frozen yogurt over cake or brownies.  Crossfit has been a great motivator, encouraging them to eat more vegetables because the kids that eat the most vegetables on crossfit days are often chosen to be leaders.  The kids are discovering that a Healthy Lifestyle begins with Healthy Eating.

For our Healthy Body portion, the kids are learning the importance of physical well-being.  They are discovering muscles, more about exercise and activity, and the benefit of playing outside in the sunshine.  When it's too cold to go outside, they have been 'exercising' with a WiiFit Kids game. But we aren't only focusing on Gross Motor, we are practicing fine motor everday when we work on our ASL (fingerspelling is a great way to improve fine motor skills) and practice our penmanship.

Our Healthy Mind section includes our school work, but it goes above and beyond our typical school day activities.  The kids are playing mind games, board games, reading, and working through their own problems daily.  We don't watch a lot of television, but when we do, I often hear the kids discussing what the events in the stories mean, what they think will happen (often in the next episode), and what characters they like/dislike and why.

Our Healthy Spirit portion involves our Church and reading from a kids' devotional.  We also spend some time praying each day.  We normally do this before bed at night and at meal times.  It causes quite a few curious looks when we are eating out (we do have a weekly Pizza Night since that is something the kids LOVE).

Overall, I think the kids are really enjoying adding a Healthy Lifestyle element to our routine.  They especially enjoy Crossfit, PEAK open gym, and they are really excited about starting at the Y-Center in the next week or two, especially the once a week swimming day.  Their enthusiasm and progress amaze me daily.