The Happy Break 3-2-1: Active Starts, Healthy Hearts: Embracing Movement for a Happier Life

3 Moves

1. Bella Ciao

 

Try this first thing in the morning and then thank me later…

 

It is the perfect active to start the day, to get the endorphins going and prepare the children to learn.

 

There are so many video like this, such an easy win for you to have a productive lesson, and to add some movement into the first part of the day.

 

In fact, movement breaks like this can be incorporated regularly throughout the day.

 

Did you know that in Finland, they have a 15 minute movement break for every 45 minutes spent in the classroom.

 

It works…

 

2. Sugar is like cocaine!

 

And high blood sugar levels are linked to the likelihood of developing cancer!

 

Dr. Seyfried was recently on the ‘Diary of a CEO‘ podcast, and it was fascinating.

 

The parts that stood out for me were that managing blood sugar through diet could potentially slow cancer progression. As a parent I’m so aware that my two daughters have way too much sugar, I even made them scrambled egg for breakfast after listening to this.

 

How regular physical activity can be beneficial to cells healthy – makes perfect sense, I feel so much healthier when I’m active and eating well.

 

While genetics play a role, lifestyle factors like diet and stress can have significant impacts. Again, as a parent and educator it strengthens my belief that we must do all we can to ensure children are healthy and active.

 

How often do you fall ill after having too much sugar?  It happened to me last week, after too much birthday cake.  I felt a cold coming on and went to zero sugar and limited may calories for a few days, and some fasting (not suggesting this for children btw), and I seem to have swerved it.

 

It is the easy option for us as parents to give in to desert after dinner all the time, plus not getting enough exercise during the day.

 

If we could see into the future and saw our children getting poorly, would we make a different decision now?

 

3. How active is your weekend?

 

If your children play sport at the weekends, then their physical activity is taken care of, but it is yours?

 

And, if they don’t, what are you doing to get them moving?

 

I struggle with my daughters, they don’t play sport and I’ve MADE them go for a run with me on my weekends…  I’m not saying this is the best way to do it, but at the moment, I’m to sure what is.  They always complain, but feel better when we get back, I guess I’m hoping that they realise the benefits and love the way they feel afterwards, but I’m open to suggestions.

 

My point is that children, AND us should be getting 60 minutes a day pf physical activity, but lets be real 30 minutes would make a big impact.

 

I have those healthy habits ingrained, but do they? Not yet.

 

My goal is that by being a role model and talking to them about the importance of being active and eating well, it will stick with them when they make their own choices and I’m don’t have to drag them for a run…

 

Model the behaviours you want to see in your children…

2 Quotes

 

Simone Biles:

  • “I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I’m the first Simone Biles.”
  • This quote reflects her unique perspective on her identity and achievements in gymnastics, emphasising originality and self-acceptance.

Marcus Aurelius:

  • “Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
  • This is a quote from Marcus Aurelius’s “Meditations,” encapsulating the Stoic belief that personal happiness is largely governed by our internal attitudes rather than external circumstances.
  • And if those attitudes centre around being healthy and active, then it will increase the likelihood of us being happy

1 Question for your class

“What is one activity that makes you feel happy and healthy, and you would love to do it everyday?”

 

Until next week,

 

Ben Kirk

 

The Healthy Happy School, the #1 best-selling book
The School Run Podcast, Podcast to inspire parents and children in the journeys
Inspired Schools – How we work with schools, and communities

Inspired Playgrounds and Markings – Our full range of playground markings and solutions

Have a great weekend.

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