For most TOPS members, weight-loss can feel tedious, especially COVID times, which have restricted so much that we used to do for fun. It can be hard to stick with healthy habits when not having a good time. To find fresh fun we might think recall our own play as the young kids we used to be.
When I was a Kindergarten teacher, I’d greet each child by name, say, “good morning” and give them each a big smile. If we’d all start our day looking in the mirror, saying our names out loud, and giving ourselves a big grin, how do you think we’d feel? Silly? That’s okay. We can be silly.
On days my Kindergartners needed a perk, I’d play the Chicken Dance; we’d flap elbows, dance around, feel goofy. These days, I dance around the kitchen while tidying up; a friend dances to self-made yoga Tik Tok clips in her kitchen. I recall my teenaged daughter, amused, asking why her Dad danced solo in his study to Jerry Jeff Walker songs, in his underwear(!), after hi-stress workdays. It’s true! Dance like nobody’s watching and hope they aren’t.
Imagine Kindergarteners curled up around the carpet, reading beautiful new books and old favourites, or listening to teacher read while snuggling in with their good buddies. Nowadays I try to find even a quarter of an hour a day to enjoy a book or do some shared reading online. If you love to read, do you take some time for yourself each day and enjoy a book?
At snack time, everyone washed hands, opened lunchboxes to tasty surprises parents had packed, and talked and giggled. Perhaps if you live with another person you can touch on funny things, not always about appointments for septic tank cleanout or the dentist. If you live on your own, why not set up a coffee party on Zoom? Friends can still have coffee together. It’s more fun that way.
During recess, Kindergarteners burn off energy, exercise their big muscles, and explore what amazing young bodies can do. Many TOPS members love walking, so why not walk on the driftwood beach logs (at least you can imagine) or grab a ball and play a game of catch while you walk.
My little students had art every day; they painted with big brushes and tempera paint, and pasted little bits of shiny paper, lace, craft paper, sticks, and buttons on boards. They rolled out little green snakes or built big purple dinosaurs from playdough. We can paint, copy an outrageous version of some masterpiece, make a collage, get our hands dirty, our clothes paint-stained, and our fingers glued together. Why not? It’s fun.
My Kindergarten children had little journals where they drew with coloured crayons what was on their minds; maybe their cuddly puppy or the big yellow garbage truck they saw on the way to school or the rolling thunder that scared them last night, and their mom’s kiss and hug that made them feel safe again. We can do the same. I have a Mayne friend who has a special set of coloured pens just for writing in her journal. Some grown-ups still draw pictures in their journals. Ask any of the artists and writers on the island.
We visited parks in all seasons, collecting leaves, rocks, fallen feathers, or anything that we saw and could learn about, write about, draw, or use in some a special way. We watched chicks hatch and observed caterpillars morph into butterflies. We baked muffins, made salads, and pressed apples. We sprouted seeds and watched them grow. Each one of us can still gaze in wonder at how a big, strong plant begins as a tiny little seed. You might call it cooking or gardening, but it’s called play in Kindergarten. Why not call it play now?
TOPS is for everyone. TOPS becomes “KOPS,” – keeping off pounds sensibly for those who’ve met their target but appreciate support to stay with it. (Visit the tops.org site.) Each week we remind ourselves that we’re intelligent people who will take off pounds sensibly. Sometimes we play games, too. We’d love to see you at our meetings, though during this stage of the pandemic we meet via Zoom. If you want to Take Off Pounds Sensibly with us, please call.
Submitted by Amber Harvey