{"id":14133,"date":"2023-09-26T10:55:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T08:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/responsive.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents\/?p=14133"},"modified":"2023-09-26T10:58:23","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T08:58:23","slug":"play-and-fun-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/activities-and-outings\/play-and-fun-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Why play and fun are good for brain and body"},"content":{"rendered":"

Think about toddlers, who move constantly. Think about cave dwellers, who moved just to survive. Then think about us. We\u2026sit. For many of us, movement isn\u2019t part of every hour. It\u2019s homework – not play and fun! So there\u2019s a lot that we (think we) \u2018can\u2019t do\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I know this for a fact. At 34 I had no ball skills. I couldn\u2019t reliably catch. I couldn\u2019t accurately throw. I was afraid of the ball, so I closed my eyes when it came. And I was \u2018useless on the left side\u2019.<\/p>\n

It turns out that, because I\u2019ve only used my right hand all this time, I\u2019ve not actualised some of the brain-and-body-potential that\u2019s inside me. Plus, I\u2019ve been sitting for six hours a day, five days a week, for the last 15 years.<\/p>\n

Now, at 35, I\u2019m a lot better, but it\u2019s taken sweaty months of play and fun practice.<\/p>\n

So, while I\u2019ve come to terms with the fact that my eloquent daughter is unlikely to be an Olympian (her nerdy genes, inherited from both parents, are probably unsuitable for athletic pursuits), that\u2019s not a certainty<\/em>.\u00a0So what can I do to give her a fair shot \u2013 just in case she turns into the next Caster Semenya?<\/p>\n

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www.futuresteps.co.za<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Building my little one\u2019s brain<\/h2>\n

Pedro Almeida* \u2013 former pro athlete, Physical Education teacher and trainer at Parkmore\u2019s Seven Star\u00a0Energy Centre \u2013 says I can help her to develop and integrate both hemispheres of her brain, via exercises that use both the right and left sides of the body.<\/p>\n

Because if, like me, she only kicks with her dominant foot, the other may become \u2018lazy\u2019 or \u201cshe may develop a false belief that she \u2018can\u2019t do\u2019 that task\u201d. (Like me and burpees.)<\/p>\n

On the up side, research shows that stimulating both sides of the brain enables children to control and coordinate body and mind. They learn better, become more creative, deal more effectively with challenges and emotions, and build enhanced confidence, self-esteem and understanding of their environment.\u00a0It\u2019s win-win.<\/p>\n

\u2018Just playing\u2019 vs brain-boosting<\/h2>\n

Kids are experts at playing. Plus, because motion and movement are fun, kids activate all their senses without realising it \u2013 stretching body and mind.<\/p>\n

The problem is that we (and grandparents, teachers and friends) impose limitations on play: \u201cDon\u2019t touch\u2026 Be careful\u2026 You can\u2019t\u2026\u201d And sometimes this shuts down their creativity to the extent that they lose the will to use it.<\/p>\n

The answer is brain-boosting exercises<\/strong>. Rooted in play and fun, they\u2019re able to infuse movement and exercise with great enjoyment and great purpose.<\/p>\n

3 easy play and fun activities to try at home<\/h2>\n

You don\u2019t need professional input to begin the play and fun process. Here are three activities, suggested by Pedro, that you can do with kids at home:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Together, try to write, draw, paint, kick, and throw using your non-dominant limbs<\/strong>. Don\u2019t judge; just try. Use your imagination, but be realistic in your expectations and kind about the results. And let your little one reinforce their ability with practice, until they can do it a little bit better.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      \n
    1. Ask your child to mimic the unique movements of different animals<\/strong>, like a crab, a bear, a frog, a leopard and a crocodile. Do it with them, from one side of a room to another (a quick way to get in shape, if you do it often).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \n
      1. Introduce colours, numbers, and shapes to movement,<\/strong> so that you\u2019re integrating what they learn at school and in the environment into your brain-boosting activities. For example, ask your child to crawl to the red ball, throw it into the yellow box, use their toes to pick up four objects, and use the objects to make up a story. If they\u2019re older, give the instructions first and ask them to remember the sequence of what they need to do.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Pedro says that, by stimulating both sides of the body and brain in a fun way, complemented by the encouragement to practice, we\u2019ll lead our kids towards better emotional control and a \u201crepertoire of healthy experiences\u201d in their lives.<\/p>\n

        When to get your kid started<\/h2>\n

        According to Pedro, this category of brain-boosting activities works best with kids aged five and older, because this is when their bodies and brains are most receptive to instruction and learning.<\/p>\n

        They can begin to appreciate and eventually master the fundamentals of movement (play and fun), which will also prepare them to choose the various sports they may want to participate in later on in life.<\/p>\n

        There are many extra murals<\/a> on offer, that can spark your kids interest from as little as 3 years old! And maybe inspire you too!<\/p>\n

        Maximising your \u2018down time\u2019<\/h2>\n

        Most of us spend a lot of time in the car, waiting outside school, or standing in queues \u2013 with and without our kids. I\u2019ve realised that these times offer great opportunities to (get off Facebook and) fit in some brain-boosting play and fun activities.<\/p>\n

        No equipment required; just the phone, which is glued to my hand anyway.<\/p>\n

        I use JAMM (Just a Mindful Minute), a local app, to get ideas (plus photos and how-to explanations) for introducing mobility, balance, strength, play, breath, or movement into our waiting time. It\u2019s available for both iOS and Android devices.<\/p>\n

        Another awesome way is to actually walk while waiting! Often, I would see folks doing laps around the field while the little ones are at soccer or rugby practice. Or, opt to visit the closest park<\/a> with other parents over grabbing a coffee!<\/p>\n

        So what\u2019s the bottom line?<\/h2>\n

        Get your kid moving. Let your kid see you moving. Think playfully about exercise and activity. Integrate it into your down time or make it part of your quality time. Whatever you do, don\u2019t just\u2026sit.<\/p>\n

        The bottom line is that there are two sides to the brain for a reason, so wake up your sleepy side and start to give your littlie the potential to be a complete rock star. Have fun!<\/p>\n

        * Pedro Almeida is a former professional roller hockey player, a PE teacher (trained at Portugal\u2019s Higher Institute of Education Sciences and the High Sports School of Rio Maior) and a trainer at the Seven Star Energy Centre in Parkmore, where he works with kids and adults to enhance their physical abilities and build healthy lifestyles. Email pedro@7sec.co.za<\/a> for info.<\/p>\n

        This article was originally written for Jozikids by Tiffany Markman in 2016.<\/em><\/p>\n

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