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BUTTERFLY TRAINING
by Carol Goodrow
Getting ready for a fun run takes a bit of training to build up needed endurance. Running laps is one way but they can get monotonous. Here's an adaptation of the basic run, walk routine for kids that can keep kids running for a longer period of time. |
It's easy as a butterfly in the breeze. The butterfly outline is set up with painted lines or cones. On our soccer field we use two white lines for the Butterfly Sprinting Lane, then we set up cones for the wings. The kids start at the wings and go either way. If they go to the right, they jog. If they choose the left, they walk. When they come to the Butterfly Sprinting Lane, they do just that - run FAST and then they choose: right - jog or left - walk.
INVOLVING KIDS
It's much more fun for the kids if they carry kid-made paper butterflies as they run, so at the start of club, have some outlines ready. Kids can decorate, cut out and take with them on their run.
WHAT WILL YOU HEAR THE KIDS SAY?
"Can we take the butterflies home?"
"I sprinted 10 times."
"I passed 3 kids in the sprint lane."
"This is fun."
"I hope we do the Butterfly Run again."
Click on graphic for larger cutout.THE PRINTABLE CUTOUT
Have plenty of crayons and markers available for kids. Be ready to help the few children who have trouble cutting.
Besides serving as motivator for this activity, this cutout will also act as a memory or following directions aid to the children as they participate in this routine. Just click on the little graphic and print the pdf file.
EMAIL: rwedit@rodale.com
Butterflies from Happy Feet, Healthy Food, Your Child's First Journal of Exercise and Healthy Eating
This activity was inspired by a semi-circle training routine in Eric Anderson's Training Games (second edition), TAF News.