fitCLUB

Stretch and Discuss Self-Talk

Kids practice mindful breathing and stretching exercises. They learn about different ways energy and mood affect their food, activity, and fitness choices.

Group of kids having a discussion with an adult leader
kids doing exercises in a gym with an adult leader
Group of kids listening to instructions from an adult leader
group of kids encouraging one another
Group of kids making a human chain in a gym
Kids doing exercises on a grassy field outside
Home fitClub Session 7-Motivate Your Mood S7 Activity 6-Stretch and Discuss Self-Talk

Activity Purpose

Kids practice mindful breathing while stretching. They will review what they have learned about the many ways energy and mood affect their food, activity, and fitness choices.

Objectives

  • Identify "recharge" as sleeping 9-12 hours every night and doing screen-free relaxation activities throughout the day to get energy to motivate your mood.
  • Recognize that recharge is an influencer of fit choices throughout the day.
  • Recognize that media, relationships, stress, and school can influence your mood and fit choices. 
  • Recall "Think fit. Be fit!" as a cue for "know your mood" and "make a healthy choice." 

Preparation

  • Talk Time: Kids sit and stretch or stand and march in place. Be sure they are a safe distance (arm’s length) apart.
  • Activity: Have Recharge Activity Cards ready to use.  Print copies of the Session 7 Challenge and My fit Thoughts for each fitClub member. If using music, have the player and music accessible and ready to play.
  • Wrap Up: Kids sit a safe distance apart for group discussion.

Talk Time

Introduction

Q: Did you know that sea otters hold hands as they sleep so that they won't float away from each other? Can you imagine sleeping as you float in the water? 

As our final activity, we are going to move through a breathing and stretching routine while we review what we have learned about mood and plan for fit choices before our next fitClub session.

Do The Activity

Activity Instructions
  1. Kids sit, close their eyes, then take 3 deep breaths. Breathe in through the nose and fill the belly up like a balloon for a count of 6. Slowly exhale through the mouth for a count of 6.
  2. Ask for 3 volunteers; each chooses 1 Recharge Activity Card.
  3. Demonstrate how to do the stretching movement on each card. Continue the breathing pattern.
  4. Continue stretching through Wrap Up and Reflection.

Wrap Up

Reflections

Q: We are going to travel to the future! Tell a partner what you want to remember ten years from now about the connection between mood and the other parts of fit.
A: Answers will vary and may include:

  • You can use self-talk to tell yourself  "I will," then make a healthy choice. 
  • Mood is how you feel at the moment. It's your motivation to make healthy choices.
  • Your feelings and emotions put you in a mood.
  • The choices you make are influenced by your mood.
  • Moods are not necessarily good or bad, but they do influence the choices you make—especially your healthy choices!
  • Media, relationships, stress, and school can influence your mood and fit choices.

Distribute pencils and My fit Thoughts to check for understanding and readiness to make fit choices. This will provide you with information about how well the kids are understanding the fit concepts as well as their learning needs. Remind kids that there are no right or wrong answers. Read the questions aloud:

  1. Circle the icon that represents the fit session you learned about. For this session, circle "Mood."
  2. What did you learn about in the fit section you circled above? Write down something you learned today.
  3. What is one fit choice you plan to make this week.?
  4. On a scale from 1 to 5, how easy will it be to complete the fit choice you made in question 3? Put an X over "Super Easy," "Easy," "Doable," "Difficult," or "Super Difficult."
Challenge

Thank you for coming today. We had fun learning about mood and the connection to the other parts of fit. Here is your challenge to help you make healthy choices until the next session. (Distribute the Session 7 Challenge for kids to take home.)

Closing

Do the fit-Chant! 

Leader: Think fit. (Pointer finger pointed at brain.) 
Kids: Know your mood! (Pointer finger pointed at brain.) 

Leader: Be fit! (Show thumbs up!)
Kids: Make a healthy choice! (Show thumbs up!)

Next Session

Time: 10 Minutes

What You'll Need

Resources
Materials
  • Music
  • Markers or Pencils
  • Timer
Helpful Tips

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