Last Friday I had the opportunity to sub for the gym teacher at a local elementary school. While I’ve subbed a lot – with all ages – over the past few years, this was my first experience spending a day as a gym teacher at any school. I found myself excited that I’d get to spend a whole day being active. Why workout when I get home if I can spend the day exercising with the kids? I donned my best, most school-appropriate workout clothes, and I hopped in my car, expecting to be cheered for exercising with the classes.
My day in gym did not go at all like I had pictured it! With the first class – a fifth grade group – I stepped to the front and began the warm-up exercises with them. Instead of reacting positively toward my participation, the kids reacted with complete and utter surprise! I blew it off because they were the oldest group. They’ve been doing this warm up for years. They have it mastered. Maybe the gym teacher doesn’t need to do it with them anymore. I did the warm up with them anyway, even after being informed that I was “weird” because I did the exercises! My behavior was more acceptable when I had to change from a participant to a coach/cheerleader as they practiced games for the upcoming Field Day events for the remainder of their gym time.
With each new class, no matter what age group, my participation in the warm-up exercises garnered the same reactions. The kids were completely shocked to see me exercising with them! I thought my participation would be accepted by at least one group that day, but the shock continued. In Every. Single. Class.
Here’s a list of some of the things said to me that day, along with my thoughts [in brackets]. Please note I did NOT say the things in brackets out loud. It’s just what I think of their comments.
“You’re exercising with us?! You’re so weird!” – Fifth grade boy [Exercising is weird? I think it’s kind of fun. But okay…]
“You’re too old to do jumping jacks!” – Second grade boy [I know I’m old enough to be your mother, so do you think your mother can’t do jumping jacks? I’m pretty sure she can!]
“Aren’t you afraid you’ll get dirty and sweaty?” – Fourth grade girl [I’m not scared of sweat, but the dirt on this gym floor, however … THAT makes me want to shower like 40 times ASAP.]
“You’re doing OUR exercises?! You’re so silly!!” – Fourth grade boy [You didn’t invent these stretches. You don’t own these moves. Do you think I can’t stretch like you? Just sit there and watch me put my head on my knee.]
“Why are you doing push ups on your knees? That’s cheating!” – First grade boy [No, it’s called modifying. I can easily do ten push ups on my knees right now, but only 3-4 at a time on my toes. Good form is WAY more important than being on my toes! Plus this is the fifth time I’ve done these today. I don’t care if you think it’s cheating!]
“Why are you exercising with us? I don’t think you’re fat!” – Third grade girl [Do you think people should only exercise if they’re already overweight?! How do you think thin people stay thin!?]
“Subs aren’t supposed to exercise with us. You’re supposed to go sit on that chair.” – Third grade boy [Thanks for sharing, but this sub is already sweaty and covered in dirt from the gym floor. Give me another set of push ups!]
“I’ve never seen a grown up exercise before!” “Me neither!” – Kindergarten girls [Are you kidding me?! You’ve never seen a grown up exercise before?! Not your parents? Not even the gym teacher? That is SO wrong!!]
With that kindergarten group, it finally hit me. The vast majority of these kids have probably never seen a grown up do a workout before. The gym teacher surely showed them what to do at the beginning of the year, but what does he do now? Their parents probably spend most of their free time on the couch. At best, they may occasionally go for a walk. They have likely never done a single jumping jack, crunch, push up, or anything of that nature in front of their kids.
As with most of our attitudes and beliefs, a child’s view of exercise begins at home. If they never see their parents exercise, then they think adults simply don’t – or shouldn’t – exercise. Can you see where this view will lead them?! Straight to a life spent sitting on a couch, facing obesity, disease, and chronic pains. All of that could be eliminated with the help of exercise!
My list of comments above is FAR from complete. I saw two-thirds of the school’s students that day, and easily a quarter of the students I saw expressed some kind of negativity toward my participation in the warm up exercises. Want to know how many made a positive comment on my participation? Zero. Zip. Zilch. Not a single one! I know some of these kids and their parents. I know some of them – both grown ups and children – actually ran a half marathon or a 5k the weekend before I subbed as the gym teacher. Those kids who have surely seen adults exercise kept quiet. They accepted the majority view that adults exercising is “weird.” Does that mean they’ll join the majority when they’re older? Or will they have the strength to be “weird” like their parents?
I believe our country does not have a health care problem. We have an obesity problem. So many of our health crises are linked to, or even caused by, being overweight. Our health, as a nation, could be improved greatly if we, as adults, would simply get up and exercise! Now our inactivity is being passed on to our kids. For those of us who do try to be a good example, our work is being undermined by our children’s friends who think avoiding exercise is normal.
I, for one, want to be a part of the cure. I want to get up and move. I want my children to SEE me being active and making healthy choices. I want to encourage YOU to exercise, too! Let your kids SEE you moving, getting sweaty, and choosing things that make you a healthier person. Get your kids to work out with you every chance you get! Little eyes are watching us – we have to choose to be a good example! Will you join me?
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