Teaching Young Girls about Fitness and Health

Yesterday I taught a group of girls ranging from age 8-12 about the importance of eating healthy and staying active.  It was a lot of fun.  I started by playing a game of jeopardy and asking questions in these categories.  Fruits/Veggies, Milk &Protein, Exercise, Miscelleanous.  My questions were things like What Vegtable is know for helping your eye sight, What does eating protein do for you body, What kinds of exercises build muscle in your body, and What fluid should you be drinking plenty of each day.  The girls had a lot of fun answering these questions.  Some were easy and some they struggled with, but as they answered the questions I discussed why we should be eating healthy and exercising.  After the game I shared with them why I am so passionate about exercising and trying to eat healthy.

I told them that I had a few reasons, but 1 reason was because I enjoy exercise and how I feel after I exercise.  The second reason I Shared with them is very personal.  My grandmother who passed away several years ago and who I love love with all my heart had an influence on why I try to stay healthy.  My grandmother had diabetes and arthritis for these reasons it made it very hard for her to get around and do all the things I know she would have loved to do.  As a young girl, probably the age of the girls I was teaching, I decided that I didn't want that to happen to me.  I wanted to be able to see my children and grandchildren grow up.  I wanted to be able to go to there sporting events and or other functions I would be invited to.  My grandmother as she got old had a harder time getting out of the house and one of the last times she left the house was to my wedding.  I am soo soo happy she made it to my wedding and I cherish the picture I have of her and my grandpa with me on that day. So I told the girls that they should strive to be healthy so they too and see their children and their childrens children grow up and enjoy life.  This is a passion of mine and I hope that I can influence others to be healthy.

At the end of my teaching them we played a fun relay game.  I had the girls run from one side of the gym and do the following

20 Hula Hoop

5 push-up

10 squats

10 jumping jacks

If you want some good entertainment have a group of 8-12 year olds do push-ups and squats!!