Katy Bowman’s refreshing and informative book Grow Wild is like preventative medicine for families. In a society dominated by screens and “convenience,” as well as health challenges like obesity, Bowman offers a wealth of suggestions to get kids (and their adult caregivers) moving again.
Why is movement especially important for kids?
Kids need to exercise their bodies in order to grow healthy and strong. But movement is equally important for their minds. It helps them connect abstract concepts with physical reality by exploring the world and learning through their own experience. It keeps them engaged so that mental activities like attention, perception, memory and decision-making flourish. And kids never sleep better than after they’ve had an active day of play.
What’s keeping us modern folks from moving more?
Ancient humans had to move to survive. From gathering food and firewood to fetching water and following the herd, they were always on the go. Even our more recent ancestors had active lifestyles as they grew vegetables and walked everywhere. But we mostly sit at desks and interact with our computers. Even shopping doesn’t require us to walk around a store anymore—we can just do it from our phones! Sadly, this “super-sedentary culture,” as Bowman calls it, extends to our children. But as addicted as they might seem to their devices, it’s never too late to form healthier habits.
How are some families integrating more movement?
Bowman’s book outlines a number of “containers” into which we can start integrating more movement: home, clothing, cooking, learning and celebrations. For example, the simple act of trading in tight jeans for stretchy or loose-fitting pants encourages a lot more movement. You can swap high beds and formal dining tables for Japanese-style furniture on the floor, which requires more diversity of motion. All these micro-changes add up. Learning can include nature walks to identify plants and animals, and celebrations can be planned with plenty of fun, movement-rich activities for kids and adults, rather than video games or movies.
This video mixes cardio and strength-building with animal impressions, see if you and your kids can dig it.
Stacking
We’re all familiar with multitasking in our over-busy lives. But rather than trying to do several things at once, Bowman’s technique of “stacking” means picking a single activity that fulfills multiple needs. For instance, biking to the grocery store gets you to the store to shop, it’s fun, and it’s exercise. An outdoor potluck at the park checks the boxes of social time, nutrition, and active play for the kids. And growing a garden meets the needs of learning, exercise and healthy food all at once. Pick up Bowman’s book for even more practical ideas that will help you work movement into your life in a way that fits your needs, time constraints, and budget.
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