New program gets kids moving in Eden

Details

Published on Thursday, November 17, 2016

By Miranda Leybourne

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Shake, Rattle & Roll, a physical literacy class for parents and toddlers, is happening over the next few weeks at the J. M. Young school in Eden. 

The six-week program has been running in the Neepawa area for the last 10 years. It is facilitated by the Beautiful Plains School Division and Assiniboine North Coalition and run by Sheila Bremner. 

The program’s goals are to boost children’s self-confidence and body awareness, to facilitate social interaction and self-expression and to keep kids healthy by teaching them good fitness habits.

Bremner says it’s also a great way for parents to cultivate a healthy respect for fitness in their children.

“The parents go through the program with their children,” Bremner explains. “So if we’re having a running activity or a jumping activity, the parents are expected to do it with their children. The children see that the parents think it’s great!”

Kids between the ages of two and four who are walking will be able to make use of plenty of different kinds of equipment, which Bremner says helps keep them interested in the program. 

“We use hula hoops, bean bags and balls, and we use low benches and mats for the kids to do rolling and somersaults on,” she says.

Each week of the program, a different theme or skill focus will be explored with the children and their families. 

“One week it will be a running theme, where most of the activities will be about teaching children different running games and activities and there’s jumping and balancing another week,” Bremner advises. Each session will also feature ball play and a fun and games time. 

In a world of increasing screen time and sedentary habits, Bremner says Shake, Rattle & Roll is a good opportunity for families to get moving. 

“Research has shown that the sooner kids start with physical fitness, the more likely it will be that they will keep up with it in their formative years and into adulthood,” Bremner says. “I think the more we expose them to it the more comfortable they’ll be with it. It’s like everything else– the more you practice at the jumping and running and all those different skills, the more successful they’ll be and the better they’ll feel about it.”

The free program runs from 6:30-7:30 p.m. every Monday evening until Dec. 19. To register, call 204-476-2455.