Thank goodness for 6...

I once again had another good day.  There were six kids there today, and this make me really happy.  In the first I had three kids and in the third group I had two people.  We played games and more games.  I wanted to make today a really fun day.  This was because it is Friday, and that means the weekend!  After we played just some excercising games we played a more interesting game.  I hid some food in the gym, in places that were sort of obvious, but not too obvious.  I had the kids go and find what I had hidden in the gym.  They were to only find one of the items that were hidden.  Once they found an item they came back and we talked about what they had found on their hunt.  After talking the were to, again, find some more of the random things hiding around.  Finally everything was found and so we had a talk.  The kids and I talked about healthy food and not so healthy food.  We talked about why people go for junk food more than than they go for the healthy items.  We as a group, came up with the fact that junk food is more convenient, and it is easier to get to and it.  The healthier food seem to take longer to eat and longer to get ready.  In all  I think they took out of it that the healthy food is harder to work for, but it is better for you in the long run.

Lesson I learned today: Kids are more comfortable talking to you if you get down on there level.  They also do better in smaller groups.

Hip Hip Hooray for 7 on the 3rd day!

I was so happy to see that more people showed up today!  It definitely made my day that much better.  In the first group I had 5 kids.  This made it fun, because we could actually play games and then talk about the health part of my project.  I am glad that people are starting to show some interest, or just remembering that the class is going on.  Either way it makes me happy to see that parents are willing to allow their kids to participate in my program.  The second hour I again had Trent.  He worked on his conditioning, and I talked to him about eating healthy.  He is for sure feeling what it is like to workout everyday, and to start getting stronger.  I have asked him each day if he was sore, and each day he has told me yes.  The third hour I had four kids.  We again played games and it was a blast.  The two games we played were a tag sort of game, and then marco/polo in the pit.  Both of the games were a challege, and worked on your cardio.  Not only did we play the games, I talked to them about eating healthy.  We talked about what was healthy to eat and what was not so healthy to eat.  We also talked about what you should snack on if you are getting hungry during the day.  Another thing we talked about was making sure they ate breakfast, because it is one of the most important meals of the entire day.  I am hoping tomorrow is just as good of a day!  It has been a fun time so far, so I would like to continue the enjoyment.

Lesson I learned today: Kids are entertained by the simplest things, and enjoy playing game (even if the game has them running around, technically working out).

Turn out of 3 on Day 2

I actually got a turnout today!  It was great seeing that people actually remembered to come.  The first hour fun, we did some conditioning and such to pass the time.  I sure hope that more people come tomorrow, or it isn't going to be as fun as it should be.  Trent again did conditioning.  I plan on doing this for awhile and then talking to him about eating healthier foods, to be healthier.  I hope that he will actually take what I am saying and apply it to his every day life.  I want him to be healthy and strong, expecially since he is my nephew.  I want him to be the best that he can be for a very long time.  The third hour of my time was spent with some littler kids.  We actually worked on what I wanted to.  We played a name game, for me to get to know them a little better.  After that I had them warm up, and and stretch.  I plan on doing the warm up and stretch every single day of the program.  After that we played some games, just for the first day.  I am going to also be telling them how to be healthy and eating right at home.  I can't wait to see how it goes.  I sure home more kids show up tomorrow!  I am hoping for at least more than 1 kid in each group, so hopefully people come!

Lesson I learned today: Having people out, when you can't get people to come, is extremely helpful.

Already Day 1?

The day finally came to start my senior project.  My program "Got Healthy" is what I am talking about.  I got to the gymnastics building today around 1:30, in order to get ready for the kids to show up.  I wanted to make sure that I was prepared for them to come and have a good time.  Sadly, though, no one remebered that the class started today.  That is, except for my nephew.  He knew because I had talked about it to him just yesterday and today.  I got him started on his part of helping me.  At first I had him warming up.  He ran some laps and then we did some stretching.  After that I had him show me what he could do, that way I could have a good idea of what we should be working on.  I had hime do exercises that involved this: the legs, arms, tummy's, and backs.  Conditioning was also brought into the mix.  This was a test of all of his abilities, and it showed me what exactly we will be working on in the upcoming days.  I hope to make him a little bit stronger, just because then I would feel like I accomplished something.  After getting home I called the parents of the kids' and reminded them about the program.  Hopefully tomorrow I will have a better turn out.

Lesson I learned today:  Everyone needs a little friendly reminder every now and then. :)

So it begins...

Tomorrow is the start of my "Got Healthy" program.  I am kind of nervous, but I think it will be a good time.  I hope the kids enjoy what I have planned up for them to do.  I can't wait to spend the next three with the kids, and hopefully get to know them a little bit better.  I also hope the kids learn something about being healthier, and exercising.  Not only that, but I hope they are having fun while learning.  I couldn't manage to get kids for one of my hours of my program.  Even though I put up posters and put adds in the paper.  I did, however, get my nephew to help me out.  I am going to have him doing some what they same thing as the other kids, but not really all the games.  He will be doing more of a fitness program, to help make him stronger.  I think that this is still working toward my goal of being a Pediatrician.  He is also a good nephew for wanting to help his aunt out!  I plan on keeping an update everyday on what happens.  I will give pictures and everything!

Getting prepared...

So far this summer has been busy, but I have found the time to work on my senior porject (including writing this blog).  Up to this point I have gotten about 8 kids for my program, by sending letters home, before school got out for the summer.  Just recently I put an add in the paper to get kids interested, and I sure hope it works.  I plan on putting flyers up around town, to get more kids to come.  The program is going to start on Tuesday the 26th of this June.  For the first day, I can say that a name game is being planned on.  This way I can get to know the kids better, and make sure I know all their names.