After a long week of playground angst at Lean Berets Basecamp watching American schools quiver and wimp out instead of supporting active play, cartwheels, and the those sinister off the ground pull up bars, we are taking a strong stand FOR physically ACTIVE children complete with rough housing, running, jumping, spinning, leaping, rolling, crawling, and yes even the dreaded “T” word lately…TAG! For those of you wanting a more scientific explanation or validation–we believe humans must have sensory-rich movement environments to develop properly–and to maintain good neurological control as adults.
Despite thousands of years of historical evidence to support dynamic human movement, many American schools are removing the opportunity for children to be vigorously active. Physical activity is becoming more criminal by the day! The nerve of these “Active Outlaws!” The kids refusing to give in are becoming “Calisthenic Convicts” often scolded or formerly reprimanded for such “dangerous” behavior. NEWS FLASH!!! If you want dangerous children–don’t teach them how to move because then they will be falling, tripping, and getting hurt repeatedly which is exactly what we have today.
Boy Scouts “Get Tough” Obstacle Course-1942
How far we have fallen in just a few decades! In the Boy Scouts photo above, we see their 1942 “Get Tough” Obstacle Course. Examine closely. Will you see outrageous feats of danger and reckless abandonment? NOT if you know anything about the brain and movement. If you are wanting to sue a school or blame someone else for your kid not being able to move correctly–then it might appear to be dangerous, but note that previous generations had far LOWER injury rates. Why? They moved better. Need proof? Here’s the course, and yes, they did it for fun without problems…and not one safety cone anywhere to be found!!!
- Turning Post
- Front Roll
- Crawl
- Balance Rails
- Water Hazard
- Scaling Wall
- Stepping Stones
- Jumping Ditch
- Overhead Ladders
- Scaling Ladders
- Culvert Crawl
- Blowdown Brush Crossing
- Fence Vault
Think Root Cause. ACT Prevention. It’s not rocket science, but it is neuroscience. Taking away activity is not the way to improve movement and decrease injuries over the long haul. From 1997-2007, American school physical education programs saw a 150% increase in injuries? Why? We do less in P.E. now than ever before. In reality, nearly all of our schools don’t even have quality physical “education” anymore–at best it is likely just physical activity or free play. So why are our kids getting hurt more than ever. They don’t know how to move well.
Removing vigorous physical activity and quality physical “education” are yet more examples of when safe becomes dangerous. In our efforts to make kids safer–we have in fact created a more dangerous and injury-prone generation. Shame on us. Now get your kids out and get ACTIVE so we can attack this from a root cause and improve the quality of movement which WILL decrease injury rates in today’s kids and tomorrow’s adults.
Do we need to take a hard look at brain injuries with collision sports like football in view of recent evidence? Absolutely. Should we be discussing head gear for soccer that also produces lots of concussions? It’s worth talking about along with other issues, but let’s be reasonable when it comes to removing risk, challenge, and the opportunities for our children to learn movement. Sitting them down is making it worse. Get a clue America…before it’s too late.
We will gladly stand behind our Lean Berets Fit Kids as they model the vigorous life and quality movement albeit their growing reputation as “Calisthenic Convicts.” Let’s Roll/Role.
If you don’t start moving America, it means “Tag–You’re OUT.”
