Where did Moving Go?

While at my doctor's office the other day I read an article about a woman in Ontario who is spear-heading a grassroots movement to get children walking to school. It seems one day while waiting to pick up her own children after school, she noted how there were many parents doing the same. This troubled her enough to form a group; which I can't recall the name but, it was an initiative to urge schools to create walking routes so kids could walk safely to and from school. The article went into great detail regarding this initiative, which I won't go into, but it disturbed me to think that in a single generation we have been brought to the point of having to form movements to get our kids to move! This astounds me. What in the world happened?

In the past it never occurred to parents that we’d need to encourage our children to get moving? Childhood was naturally active. Our kids played actively; running, throwing balls, swimming, skating and yes, even walking. These were run of the mill activities that they did without thought or planning. When and how did we get so lazy?

It seems we mainly blame the progress of technology whereby kids have become glued to electronic games, television, etc. Even that industry is responding to our inertia by creating new games that simulate real activity such as tennis, ball-playing and roller skating. What became of the real deal? Why aren’t parents facilitating the bona fide activities? These commuter games aren’t terrible in and of themselves. They could actually be beneficial during inclement weather or fun for a change of pace, but they shouldn't’t be an indispensable tool to get our children off their butts.

Children are naturally active from the time they start to crawl. All, but the rarest kid loves to run, whoop, holler and in general drive adults crazy. Some are natural athletes, eager to join a sports team; others are more given to free-play creating any manner of rowdy games and activities. In the past parent’s greatest challenge was to modify and direct their actions and choice of activities. Never did we feel the need to create initiatives to get our kids moving and playing. Kids and play.... like milk and honey, peanutbutter and jam just went together.

Perhaps there’s more afoot than simply blaming the advances in technology for our children’s lassitude? Maybe we share the same disorder and are merely setting poor examples that our kids are emulating? After all children learn best through example? How often do we jump in the car when we could walk? How often is the elevator more alluring than the stairs? Do we swim, bike, skate or hike just for the fun of it? Do we walk to work, or park far enough away to enjoy a brisk walk at the beginning and end our day?

I believe we are built to move as an innate part of being human. Children move as a normal part of learning and discovering their world. This is how they discern their limitations and their natural, inborn talents. Movement is done spontaneously without scheduling. If we are concerned because our kids are always sitting around playing computer games or waiting for the ride to school, the fault may largely rest on us. We set the example. We set expectations and limitations. We facilitate activities. Maybe we should get off our butts, thereby starting our own initiative, setting the first and best example!