June 1 - Feats of Strength!

Today's Morning activity was FEATS OF STRENGTH, in which I challenge my kids to do physical labors while chanting "FEATS OF STRENGTH! FEATS OF STRENGTH!" at them.

For feats of strength today, I got out some old fitness things that have sat unused in my closet for years... my adjustable dumbbells and my body wedge. I had the best of intentions to use them (and did for a while) until I became a devotee of Shovelglove, which I evangelically endorse and still return to on occassion.

But it struck me that although I wasn't using them, no reason the kids couldn't use them. So they became obstacles to overcome by... FEATS OF STRENGTH!

For the first feat of strength, Zephyr had to lift two 2 and a half pound dumbbells over his head, starting with his arms all the way out, while laying on a slope:

With Heraclean effort, he accomplished it. His form was not pretty, but he's just a beginner. Lyric wanted to give it a shot as well.

Actually not so bad, but it was more of a press.

Then I had Zephyr try to use his butt to touch the top of the slope 10 times in a sort of proto-squat. FEATS OF BUTT STRENGTH!

Not sure if it shows up in the picture enough, but Lyric was lying on the wedge trying to pinch Zephyr's butt when he touched the wedge BECAUSE HE IS A TRICKSTER. Such are the perils one must have to face when attempting a FEAT OF STRENGTH!

As a mythic penalty, I made Lyric dangle upside down on the wedge and try to do a sit up. He did two! FEATS OF STRENGTH! FEATS OF STRENGTH!

NEW FEATURE THIS MONTH! I'm going to grade myself everyday to take a more honest accounting of what's working. I'm a pretty tough grader. Today I would say was a B+... I got to teach the kids a bit about muscles like triceps and pectorals, and I got to use materials that were under utilized, but I could have done more on the scene setting were I more present in the moment. Room for improvement!

Lyric raising a 2.5 pound disk. FEATS OF STRENGTH! FEATS OF STRENGTH!

May 10 - Feats of Strength

HYPOTHESIS: Strength training for little kids presents a simple goal they have to try hard to accomplish. 

PROCEDURE: For this month's feats of strength, I brought out an old set of variable weight dumbbells I don't use anymore. The kids were into the idea of playing with a new toy, but I supervised them carefully in lifting the weights. They definitely could get hurt if they dropped them... I recognized this, but I let them do it. At their heaviest the weights were 25 pounds each, and that was enough for Zephyr to be able to lift and press a few times, but just barely. I did get to chant "Feats of Strength! Feats of Strength!" as he lifted the dumbbell.

For Lyric (who was dressing up as a minion, by the by) I was a lot more cautious. I wanted him to get the form first, so he just lifted the 2.5 pound base unit over his head. But I did want to see how much he actually could lift, so I let him try to pick up a 7.5 lb weight.

The kids really got into it, actually. Their form was all wrong, of course, and it's gonna take a few tries to get it to a place where I feel safe having them lift the weights without me hovering over them, but I think they found something fulfilling in the activity.

The look of triumph.

And they were pretty proud when they were able to see some progress.

RESULTS: A tentative success, especially for a first effort.