The girls have been taking a four week preschool fitness class that ended last night. I’m a little sad that it ended so soon. We had a really fun time doing this together. And even though only the girls were signed up, because it was a small class Will was able to participate too. And because it was at 5:30, Keith was able to join us. I just stopped by his work to pick him on our way to the gym each Tuesday evening and voila! it was a family outing!
I didn’t take my camera until the last night because I wanted to enjoy the program along with the girls. Sometimes we I can get so focused on getting the perfect picture that we miss the enjoyment of the moment. But I took it last night because I did want to capture memories of this time.
The Preschool Fitness class was very similar to an old school Physical Education (PE) class that we used to take in elementary school.
I have heard lots of debates on schools canceling these classes to focus more on standards and the three R’s. I really think that’s a shame because in our overweight, media (TV) driven society children’s lives, especially many home lives, are void of physical activity. I think there is a bigger push right now for schools to include these classes back into the school day.
Wow…that was a bit of a tangent, wasn’t it?!
Anyway, back to our fitness class. The activities were much like those that we would have played in a general PE class…basic exercises and games. Each week we started with some stretches and exercises and ended with a game of Duck, Duck, Goose.
Last night the kids played an egg race with a wooden spoon and yes, a wooden egg, too.
EA was doing great….going really slow and balancing her egg perfectly.
Until I tried to get a picture. Then she promptly dropped it!
Good thing it wasn’t a real egg.
MC held onto her egg until I took this picture. Then she took her hand off.
I think that’s called cheating!
The kids had a sack race each week and I could see lots of improvement in the sack hopping department.
They worked on lots of jumping activities.
In this one they had to jump from inside one ring to another.
They also jumped rope.
As in they jumped over a rope laying flat on the floor. Yup, that’s about my speed, too. We tried real jump rope the first week, but that didn’t last long.
They played with balls every week, too, practicing rolling, throwing, and catching.
The girls most loved activity was the scooters that they sat on and rolled backwards with their feet. Here they are waiting for their turn on them.
And EA is rolling away!!
(that’s Will and Keith watching from the other end)
One of Will’s favorite things to do was running around the room while twirling a stick with ribbons. Here he and EA are running away!
Approximately one second after I took this picture, Will and MC ran into each other. They were both focused on what they were doing and running at full force speed when MC’s teeth collided with Will’s forehead.
OUCH!
MC cried and cried and cried and screamed and cried and screamed and cried and screamed.
Her gums were bleeding around the top of her teeth and I was praying that she wouldn’t lose a tooth. (she didn’t)
Will handled it all fairly well, especially considering the gash he had on his forehead that was bleeding pretty well itself.
Keith had to take MC outside to calm her down.
He brought her in just as their teacher was putting a band-aid on Will’s forehead and her crying started all over again. “I DON’T WANT A BAND-AID ON MY TEETH!!” she proclaimed.
She didn’t get a band-aid on her teeth. Is that even possible??
Because she was so upset, the other kids picked her as “goose” during Duck, Duck, Goose more than anyone else and she did not feel up to playing.
Poor little dramatic girl of mine.
At the end of the class everyone received stickers and water bottles for participating.
Even Will got one….don’t you just love his band-aid??
Preschool Fitness was the perfect class for my little four year old girls! We had a blast playing and exercising together. And we came away with many ideas of activities that we can do with them at home as well.
Suzanne says
Sounds like so much fun! My kids are gearing up for soccer camp (www.upward.org) and I just found out last night that Paige can play too – since there aren’t that many kids signed up. She is super excited! I am looking forward to getting some good shots of the action – after enjoying just watching for a bit.
Thanks for sharing!
homegrownstrawberries says
It looks like such fun!
LifeAtTheCircus says
That looks like a great class. So glad Keith and Will were able to participate as well. Who knew twirling ribbons could be so dangerous?
Tanya says
How fun. I remember those scooters from when we were kids! They were always my favorite, too. And I’m just like you with the camera. The sad thing is that I have scrapbooked in months. Literally. Yet I’m still so driven to capture the memories perfectly on film for the day I finally do get back to scrapping. I’ve missed a lot, I fear, and still haven’t always gotten the shot I wanted.
Tanya says
Sorry — typo in my last comment. I meant I have NOT scrapbooked in months. Okay, I feel better (and much more honest) now. 🙂
Linda@cookingtipoftheday says
Sounds like loads of fun… the pictures are great!
Ahhh your little drama queen… I was one too when I was little… I still get teased about it…LOL … she was probably frightened… glad she calmed down… and still had some fun…
The bandaid on his little forehead was cute too! I was known as Miss Scabby Knees growing up… I think my parents bought bandaids in bulk… we didn’t have cute bandaids back then tho.
Katrina Hall says
I know that this post is from 2009 but I just saw it and it sparked soem questions of mine. I run a two year old fitness class and I would love to know where you took this class and see if I can get some new and creative ideas for my class!