Great Balls of Fire!

I always have enjoyed hearing about ridiculous strategies that different institutions have initiated to address child obesity. I mean, some are just flat out ridiculous. I understand that the Healthy Ontario/Healthy Ontarians plan identifies a need to “increase opportunities for physical activity and sport for children. But honestly, you should see the ideas that are out there. Take for example the misuse of bosu (a.k.a yoga) balls. Their shiny, plastic exterior, and superior ‘bounciness’ is great for use in a yoga session, in strength training exercises, and stretches. But in a classroom?

Several schools across the United States and Canada have introduced the use of yoga balls into the classroom so that students can sit around and bounce their days away, while working, writing tests, etc. Supposedly, this initiative not only helps children concentrate but can be a great source of ‘physical activity’. These are the words of Janice Haberlein, the school principle Edgewater Elementary School in Maryland (U.S.A.). More of her brilliant ideas (*insert sarcasm here*) can be read in this article: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/breaking/yoga-balls-help-kids-concentrate-in-class-89342972.html. Unfortunately, she is not alone. Other schools have vouched that sitting on a exercise balls has also contributed to abdominal development, can increase physical fitness, and burn off extra calories.

Now, when I first read this article, all I could do is sit and cringe at the idea. This might have something to do that I have been raised in a family of teachers. My father was an elementary school teacher for close to 30 years. My mother, although a school secretary, works very closely with teachers. My sister is a teacher, as are two of my uncles, four of my cousins, and three of my extended family members. I think I’ve made my point clear. The implication of having this many educators in one family is that you get to know the nature of the job VERY well. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard ‘staffroom stories’ about how terrible children have been, or how their hyperactivity has drained the living daylights out of the staff. What does this have to do with yoga balls you ask? Well, think about this logically. Children have lots of energy and can barely sit still in an enclosed classroom to begin with. So why in God’s name would you give them something to bounce on?

Additionally, the notion of ‘increasing one’s physical activity’ through the use of bosu balls is a complete load of manure. Bouncing on a ball ever so slightly for an hour would be the equivalent of walking across the family room to pick up the TV remote. Wait, that’s a lie. It’s more the equivalent of walking to the cupboard to grab a bag of chips, then picking up the remote, and then surfing channels. Cynical much? I do not dispute the fact that sitting on yoga balls can increase concentration because it gives children a means of releasing their fidgety energy. But to go as far as calling it physical activity? That’s a bit of a stretch.

What I dislike so much about the use of yoga balls in the classroom is that it shifts the onus of supporting raising healthy children onto schools. Schools, in my opinion, are places where children, or any individual, go to learn. The responsibilities of teachers are to teach curriculum and ensure that knowledge is being absorbed - not to baby-sit. When it comes to the health of the child, it is the responsibility of the family and parents of said child to ensure their well-being. Unfortunately, what I believe has happened is what I like to call ‘institutional reliance’. Due to the fact that other institutions in society have crumbled or fail to be of any use to us, we have dumped our outstanding needs on the last one standing. For example, can we rely on the government to solve the childhood obesity crisis? I think not. Politicians have lost our trust through their deceit. Not to mention, constant budget cuts have reduced the subsidized programs available families. Can we rely on the church? Not really, especially since there has been a divide between religion and spirituality, and an increase in agnostic individuals. Should we turn to families then? They, of all institutions, should be the one we can rely on, can’t they? The answer, again, is unfortunately no. With a divorce rate of 50%, if not more, not all children are born into solid families and warm homes. In the end, the only institution left to hold our society together is school. And so, we dump responsibilities on them that should have never been assigned to them in the first place, like solving childhood obesity one yoga ball at a time.

Although I cannot say to whom the onus should lie for ensuring a child’s health, I do know that more emphasis must be placed on getting children active. So my suggestion would be to take those yoga balls and go do something with them OUTSIDE of the classroom. Play in the backyard. Start up a neighbourhood soccer league with other children. Have volunteers establish extra-curricular clubs, or look around for a ‘Big Brother/ Sister’ association that can arrange planned activities. There are options out there to ensure that our children are strong and healthy. I just don’t think a classroom full of yoga balls will be among them.