It's cross country season so the theme today was lots of running disguised as play. Here's what I observed: boundless energy, very good runs skills each and every one of them, and, above all, not an ounce of resistance or complaint - every child participated at full noise in every game or task with a grin.
These kids need nothing more than as many opportunities as they can possibly get to play. They're like wound springs. Release them, and watch them go.
There are some lessons in all of this for teens and adults:
1) Fun is king. It distracts, it motivates. Other people make things fun
2) The 'energy cost of movement' is the critical physical factor. When the 'cost' to move is low, the pleasure derived from and the amount of movement likely is high. Energy cost is determined by body weight (low is good) and basic motor skills (high is good)
Fitness (and the lack of it) is always a circular state: light bodies with great skills enjoy moving and that, in turn, promotes low body weight and motor skill development. The circuit breaker is movement. Move more and spend your exercise time growing movement skills. (if your gym can't adequately explain how to build movement skills then go find a better one)
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