Who is enjoying the beautiful change in the weather this week? The sunshine and warmth really does put a smile on the face and a spring in the step. This Spring weather has been very timely for our PPN community as we celebrate PE week and all things active this week.
It has been wonderful to see many classes taking their learning outside, older students running additional sport activities for younger classes, buses taking classes of students to tennis lessons, and our staff participating in a team step challenge, egging one another on to keep active!
There are countless benefits to your health, physically, mentally, and emotionally, by staying active. One of these benefits is improving our mood or outlook on life and giving us more energy.
If I think back to my highschool days, I can sadly admit that exercise was definitely not on my list of favourite things to do. In fact, if you ask my family or friends from highschool, I am sure they would freely share that I would often go out of my way to not participate in any form of exercise that was not mandatory. I can remember a school cross country event where every student had to participate. I am somewhat embarrassed to share that I reluctantly joined in, making my dislike of having to participate quite well-known to my teachers by walking the majority of the event. I am pleased to admit that my attitude towards physical exercise has certainly improved in my adult years, and I now really like exercise, the friendly competitive nature of sport, and all the benefits that come with staying active.
I have collated some great resources to encourage being active together as a family. All the advantages of being active can only multiple if you share this time together as a family.
Wellbeing SA have some resources and tips around physical activity for little ones, kids and teens. These can be found here:
https://www.wellbeingsa.sa.gov.au/your-wellbeing/being-active-healthy/movement-being-active/themovement-for-little-ones
https://www.wellbeingsa.sa.gov.au/your-wellbeing/being-active-healthy/movement-being-active/physical-activity-for-kids-teens
I am a big advocate for Nature Play and outside learning spaces. Spending time outside in nature is an amazing way to help reduce stress and anxiety, improve levels of concentration and generally make us feel happier overall. Nature Play SA launched a campaign back in 2020 called #ItsBetterOutside. The concept behind this idea is to encourage children to head outside into nature, whether that be in their backyards, local parks or discovering Nature Parks. You may wish to use some of these ideas from #ItsBetterOutside campaign to inspire you in the upcoming holidays to get outdoors and discover some new places around South Australia to explore and be active with your family.
It's Better Outside : https://natureplaysa.org.au/places-to-go/
Further resources from Nature Play SA around sporting skills to try and ways to get active outdoors before you turn 14 may enthuse your family to try something new together.
NP2256-26-sporting-skills-to-try-Digital.pdf (natureplaysa.org.au)
NP2256-15-ways-to-get-active-outdoors-Digital.pdf (natureplaysa.org.au)
As you listen to the stories from your children this week, and as they share their highlights from PE week, I would like to encourage you to join the fun, get outside, be active and experience how these shared experiences will bring a spring into your step this week!
Blessings,
Tamara
