#13-5: The Human Body: Wonderfully Made!
Posted by: virginiaknowles <virginiaknowles@...>
s usual, I have included myriad red web links so you can read more about things which interest you. If you want to be able to read one, but don't want to get distracted from reading the Hope Chest, just right click on the link to open it in a new tab. Then you can read each one in turn.
- Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology (Review of new Apologia elementary text by Jeannie Fulbright and Dr. Brooke Ryan)
- Fit Kids! Incorporating Fitness into Your Home School (with excerpts from Common Sense Excellence: Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade)
- Every Body Matters (a preview of Gary Thomas's upcoming book)
- The Spirit is Willing But the Flesh is Weak (an excerpt about moms and health from The Real Life Home School Mom: It's a Life in ReVision)
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Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology
Dear friends,
(This is our cell model that we made from gelatin and candy after I wrote this article.)
PHYSICAL FITNESS
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1
The point of fitness is not to tone up any one group of muscles, but to give the whole body strength, vitality, endurance, flexibility, and coordination. If they start an active exercise lifestyle now, they won’t be so tempted to become sedentary adults!
Check with your child’s doctor before starting any strenuous exercise program. He will want to rule out any possible problems which might endanger your child. Also, consult your doctor if your child seems unusually tired after an activity, as this could be a symptom of anemia or some other malady.
Aim for a variety of activities to exercise different body systems. Get the lungs breathing (aerobic) and hearts pumping (cardiovascular). Work on coordination and strength for both large and small muscle groups. Examples of well-balanced activities are swimming, fast walking, roller blading, and bike riding.
Don’t forget to warm up before exercise and cool down afterwards. This will help protect your child from cramps, strains, nausea and exhaustion. If you are exercising outside, beware of the symptoms of heat exhaustion!
Work on basic fitness and coordination skills.
q practice keeping proper balance during activities
q learn how to fall correctly if you lose your balance
q hop on one or two feet
q skip or run in a straight, curved or zigzag line
q chase or flee (hide and seek, tag)
q jump with one or both feet, perhaps over an object
q jump rope
q dance in rhythm to music
q walk on a balance beam
q do somersaults and cartwheels
q swing by propelling yourself forward and backward using your legs
q climb on a suitable play structure or tree
q go up and down on seesaw
q catch and throw a ball with accuracy
q aim at a target (ring toss, darts, archery)
q hit an object with a hand, club, bat or other object (such as volleyball, badminton, mini-golf, croquet, tennis, T-ball, softball)
q kick a stationary or moving ball
q cross monkey bars hand over hand
q ride a bicycle
q float in water, tread water, use a kick board, swim independently
q hike for an extended distance, using appropriate pace
q follow the rules of a game
q participate in group activities without bumping into others
q lift objects safely
Adapt activities to the abilities of the child. Make each activity enjoyable, rather than overwhelming. Children get so discouraged when they are unable to do something! Fischer-Price and other companies make sports sets, such as a basketball or T-Ball, especially for young children. You can also modify rules to games, so that a physically challenged child doesn’t need to run as far. If a child does not yet have the coordination for a regular game of ring toss, try this modified version. Take a large plastic lid to a Rubbermaid bin, or any other fairly big flat object with a rim. Let your child toss the rings or other objects onto the lid. Have him keep stepping back until he can’t do this accurately any more. As an extra challenge, toss all of the rings around the yard, and have him run around and collect them before throwing them onto the lid.
Have fun as a family. Look for activities that you can do at home or in a nearby park. For rainy days, exercise along with a children’s aerobic video in the living room. Kelly-Ann Gritner-Gibbons says, “It is good to develop a family physical activity. The one thing our family does together is go for walks. We have been doing this since our daughter was an infant in a stroller. My husband likes to cycle (I don't!), so he and my daughter bicycle together. If your family plays together, your child is more likely to avoid struggling with inactivity and overweight problems at a later date.”
Make up your own games. Kelly-Ann also says, “The best way to encourage my daughter to exercise is to say “Let's make and play a game together!” We draw a hopscotch outline on the ground with a stick, choose a special marker and play. When we first started to play hopscotch, we began by hopping on both feet (helpful for her aging mama, too). As balance and skill developed, we hopped on one foot. Then we take some turns hopping on the alternate foot in order to develop equal strength and balance. We have also taken plastic pop bottles and made bowling pins. We removed the soda pop label, cleaned and dried the bottles thoroughly. We filled each bottle with 1/4 cup sand, uncooked rice, or cornmeal. We screwed the lid on tightly. When my daughter was three and four, we used a plastic beach ball to roll towards the 'bowling pins.' At five and six years old, she uses a tennis ball.”
If desired, look into group P.E. options. Check to be sure that any group program is suitable for your child, physically, emotionally and socially. Be aware of any time commitments; many team sports require several practices and games per week!
· Enroll in a child fitness program through a community organization or YMCA.
· Join an organized sports league. Upwards is a Christian church-based basketball program that we have found beneficial.
· Organize an informal weekly P.E. / recreation day within your circle of friends, home school group, or church. (Our congregation, which is made up of predominantly home schooling families, hosts an open gym night on Monday evenings.)
Read about fitness and sports. In the children’s section of your library, you will probably find books about playing specific sports, as well as general fitness tips. In addition, you can find biographies of famous sports personalities and teams. This may serve as a motivation for your child to excel.
Also, in another section of the book, tips on how to incorporate other school subject into math: "Have your child keep score during a game, measure how far he can jump, or count how many times he can bounce a ball. Use large muscle movement during math time. An active child can count numbers or chant math facts as he jumps rope, throws a ball back and forth with a sibling, or does jumping jacks. Calculate statistics of sports teams."
There are also sections in Common Sense Excellence on Nutrition, Hygiene, First Aid, Handicaps, Medical Care and Safety. Find out more about this book here: Common Sense Excellence: Faith-Filled Home Education for Preschool to 5th Grade.
Paul appeals to the highest authority. He tells us, we don’t “own” our bodies; they are not ours to abuse or care for according to our own perceived wants or desires. On the contrary, not only did God create us, but he paid a high price to redeem us. And when he redeemed us, he didn’t just redeem our souls, he redeemed our bodies, and claims them for his use as well. “Therefore honor God with your body.”Do today’s Christians have any sense that our bodies don’t belong to us? That caring for our bodies—eating appropriately, getting sufficient exercise—isn’t a matter of what we’re willing to live with, but is rather a matter of discipleship, obedience, and yes, sin?Dr. Cooper counsels, “The real difficulty is that they have never understood that their eating habits should reflect their deepest beliefs about life. In other words, they have failed to learn that the right kind of food can transform them into the energetic, healthy people they are meant to be.”
I agree—eating better and exercising can help us be more energetic. But before that, what I’m arguing for is that it’s a matter of faithfulness and discipleship. We are not our own. We were bought at a price. Therefore, how we treat our bodies is a question of stewardship even before it’s a question of health, comfort, enjoyment or pleasure.
If we’re truly going to be made holy, useful to the Master, and prepared for any good work, being more energetic and even being healthier can be an essential element of effectiveness. Some issues of disability and illness are beyond our control; they fall under the providence of God and the genes he has given us. But many issues—how often we exercise, the amount of calories we take in (and in what form)—are entirely a matter of choice, and these are what we are held accountable for.
- Review of Pure Pleasure: Why Do Christians Feel So Bad About Feeling Good?
- Review of Holy Available: What If Holiness Is About More Than What We Don't Do?
- A Poem based on Holy Available: Corpus Christi
- Help for Hurting Marriages, an article based on Gary's books Sacred Influence: How God Uses Wives to Shape the Souls of Their Husbands and Sacred Marriage: What if God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy Instead of Happy?
- Soul Mate or Sole Mate? contains an excerpt from Devotions for a Sacred Marriage.
As Francis de Sales noted in the 17th century, “As to these smaller temptations… as it is impossible to be altogether freed from them, the best defense that we can make is not to give ourselves much trouble about them; for although they may tease us, yet they can never hurt us, so long as we continue firmly resolved to dedicate ourselves in earnest to the service of God…. Content yourself with quietly removing them, not by contending or disputing with them, but by performing some actions of a contrary nature to the temptation, especially acts of the love of God… This grand remedy is so terrible to the enemy of our souls, that as soon as he perceives that his temptation incites us to form acts of divine love he ceases to tempt us… He who would wish to contend with them in particular would give himself much trouble to little or no purpose.”
Home schooling is a high energy occupation, but at times we feel so physically weak that it's hard to give it our all. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), so working toward optimal health enables us to serve God more effectively. It is quite common for women to experience temporary bouts of fatigue, depression, irritation, and general malaise. Often this makes us feel guilty because we automatically think it indicates spiritual or relational dysfunction. Not so! Your body can trigger many of these feelings too. Consider such health factors as nutrition, sleep patterns, vision, muscle/bone strength and alignment, chemical substance use (prescriptions, drugs, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and food additives), illness, disease, allergies, genetic history, hormone function, and the physical demands of menstruation, childbearing, and menopause. We must think holistically and practically about body, mind, and spirit. Problems don't always just go away; we must deal with them through personal research, consultation with health caregivers, and positive action.
As I entered middle age, I had to find the balance between making peace with my changing body, and figuring out what to do to improve my health. For example, at age 40, my eyesight started to decline. I still don’t have to wear prescription glasses, but I’ve gotten to the point where I can’t read without an inexpensive pair of reading glasses. I keep several pairs around the house so I can find them when I need them. Every time I put them on, it’s a reminder that I’m getting older. I’m OK with that now. I know I’m not alone. But there are other things I can be more proactive about, like my diet and my energy level. My diet is an uncomfortable topic for me right now. I know I need to eat healthier food, and I’m trying to make changes here and there, but it’s hard. It’s easier to pop a few frozen pizzas in the oven for lunch, but my kids are teaching me to take the extra few minutes and warm up some tortillas filled with black beans, onions and cheese. They also offer me some fresh sliced apples or a big glass of water. Maybe they want to keep me around for a little while?
If you find food choices to be confusing or your problems are severe, seek professional nutritional counseling. You may be reacting to ingredients in overly processed foods or medications. Choose a healthier menu, including lots of whole grains, fiber, vegetables and fruit. Start cutting back on products which are high in sugar, fat, caffeine, sodium, cholesterol, MSG, etc. Keep healthy snacks, not junk food, on hand. An occasional sweet treat can lift everyone's spirits, as long as it is balanced with a sensible everyday diet. You may wish to get a book such as Smart Weigh by Pamela Smith, a Christian nutritionist with a very balanced perspective on health and nutrition.
The way you move can affect your state of mind. When you are stressed out, move gracefully, slowly, and quietly. When you are feeling sluggish, then try to move briskly, confidently, and productively. Take a walk around the block or in a nearby park. If you have a hard time getting motivated for this, just promise your children that you will all take a walk every day. They will probably hold you to your word, just for the chance to get outside. If you have several children, perhaps the older ones can ride bikes around the block while you push a baby in the stroller. The children need exercise for P.E., and it can help them settle down for more quiet work.
Our family recently joined the YMCA. We all enjoy swimming in the pool. Our youngest children enjoy playing in the child development room during the time when my teenagers and I are using the cardio and weight equipment. We need the aerobic exercise! This YMCA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the community, so if you feel like you can’t afford a membership, apply for a scholarship, which might be up to half of the total amount.
When you wake up in the morning feeling ill or drained, it is tempting to act like a vegetable and put life on automatic pilot. Before you know it, the house is a mess, the children are hyper and disobedient, and your tension rises to fever pitch. If at all possible, stay on top of the household situation and your basic daily routine from the very start, even if you must supervise from the couch. Explain to your children how much more you need their cooperation when you are not feeling well. If they can work independently or supervise little ones, you may still get a chance for a snooze.
Speaking of snoozing, a good night’s sleep is so important for home school moms! The times when I stay up late, I really pay for it the next morning. I get grumpy, and this leads to time-wasting conflicts with the children. It’s just not worth it. As we are reminded in Psalm 127:2, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat -- for he grants sleep to those he loves.” Don’t cheat yourself out of God’s replenishing gift of sleep! If sleep is a problem for you, consider these suggestions which have been very helpful to me:
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Arrange for a “desperation nap” during the day – everyone must be quiet!
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Don’t use the computer or watch TV before going to bed.
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Don’t talk about tense issues before going to sleep.
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Take two non-prescription sleeping pills (such as Tylenol PM) on nights when it is particularly crucial to get a good night’s sleep.
This excerpt is from my book The Real Life Home School Mom: It's a Life in ReVision.
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