Fit 4 Fun Challenge
Sometimes trainers have an opportunity to train in unusual situations. I am
a full time teacher as well as a personal trainer. I train my clients in an
after school care program. Children love a challenge and the Fit 4 Fun
Challenge is a great way to encourage children of various ages to develop
and use their athletic abilities. Here is a following list of challenges
that were given in the after school care program I conducted this past
fall. They are a variation of the PE Central Challenge described in the
home page of the PE Central.
http://www.pecentral.com/pecchallenge/index.html
Materials needed for the challenge:
Balls of various sizes
A racquet or paddle
Black or masking tape
Jump ropes
Hula Hoops
1. Balance Da Beam
Children practice their balancing skills by walking on a thirty-foot line
without falling off. Completion of this challenge ensures them one point
toward their fitness certificate. Children are using their leg muscles
including their soleus and distal muscles.
2. Doing the Hula Station
Use the hula-hoop with the hoop starting around the waist, arm, or leg and
remaining off the ground (floor) the entire time. Children of ages ten to
nine need to use the hula-hoop for twenty seconds, students eight and seven
years old for fifteen seconds, and students in first grade and below need to
keep the hula-hoop off the floor for ten seconds. Children are using their
rectus abdominis, obliques, erector spinae, and gluetus maximus. They are
also using all their hip muscles of the abductors, adductors, and flexors.
3. Rivet Roping Station
A single rope must remain in a constant turning motion during the rivet
roping. 90 seconds continuous motion must be maintained for pupils in
fourth and fifth grade. Students that are in third grade need to do it for
70 seconds and second graders jump for 50 seconds. First, kindergarten and
preschoolers keep this turning motion going for 30 seconds. The student may
use forward, backward or hopping with one foot when jumping the rope.
Students utilize the muscles of the hamstrings and quadriceps. They use all
of the muscles of the calf including the soleus, tibialis anterior, and
gastroncnemius.
4. C and T ( Catch and Throwing ) Station
Throw and catch an object with your hands with a fourth or fifth grade
partner 30 times in a row without a miss from a distance of 25 feet. For
each two grades lower, deduct 5 times from the original 30 until the
preschooler does 10. Students use upper body muscles as well as learning
cooperation and coordination with other different players. The partners
must be sensitive to different kinds of throws and catches.
5. Paddle Battle Project Station
Strike a ball with a short or long-handled paddle or racket in the air
continuously to yourself while remaining in a 3-4 foot diameter space.
Students must do the challenge for 60 seconds in fourth and fifth grade. In
third grade students try for 40 seconds, and students in first and second
grade must keep the ball in the air for 30 seconds. Students must develop
strength in their lateral, anterior, and posterior deltoids as well as their
muscles in their back of the trapezius lower and middle fibers, the
rhomboids, the subscapularis, and secondary the lower fibers of the
trapezius.
In conclusion this is a workout that will bring challenge to any student
that is looking to advance or heighten their skills. Other recommendations
when working with groups of children is to give them lots of space to do
their activities, a no teasing environment, and specific boundaries in
which to practice their skills. Rules for conduct when doing the challenges
or listening to the directions is necessary.
Microsoft templates have great ideas for making certificate completion
templates. Also email me and I will send you templates of the ribbons and
certificates I used for my challenge. This is a nice alternative to
physical fitness testing because it requires no special equipment and
children can easily practice their skills at home.
References:
PE Central
www.pecentral.com
Dauer. Victor P. and Pangrazi, Robert P. Dynamic Physical Education for
Elementary School Children, MacMillian, 1989
Dole 5 A Day Music
www.dole5aday.com
This is some fun music you can download for free from Dole’s website to use
while the children are practicing for the challenge.
Essential Youth Fitness
http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kidsfitness.htm
Other ideas you can use for group games and relays.
Fitness for Fun and for Future
http://www.protraineronline.com/past/oct03/christina.cfm
Ideas you can use for children and parents learning about fitness.
Ribbons and Certificate ideas
cchapan@yahoo.com
Here are some websites that have great ideas for making your own
certificates.
Microsoft Template Certificates
http://office.microsoft.com/templates/category.aspx?
CategoryID=CT010872361033&CTT=4&Origin=CT062100801033
Certificate Maker
http://www.certificatemaker.com/create.cfm
Certificate Maker 2
http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/
Christina Chapan is an ACE certified personal trainer, fitness author,
education conference speaker and elementary school teacher. She also works
in the after school care program at her school. In her spare time, she
works as a youth sponsor at her church. If you are interested in learning
more about Christina, please visit her website.
Fit 4 Fun Kids Fitness
http://worknotes.com/IL/Chicago/Fit4FunKidsFitness/
