By Erin Thompson
The Daily Item
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LEWISBURG — Three-year-old Griffin Parker was pretending to be a pirate, digging a hole with a foam pool noodle to bury his treasure.
Then he used the noodle to “swab the deck.”
Like his classmates Kate and Delaney, he opted to not wear the eye patch.
“Blimey!” shouted his instructor during his second “Wee Workout,” a fitness class designed to combine elements of play and fitness for 3 to 5-year-olds.
No longer shy
Not many people in this room would have guessed that just one week ago, Griffin was too shy to play with the other children on his own in this new environment.
“I had to sit next to him,” said his grandmother, Trena. “(My husband and I) are amazed how much this class has helped him warm up. He’s having a great time.”
Trena said these classes also helped prepare her 5-year-old granddaughter, Mckenna, for her first day of kindergarten last week.
Mckenna, she said, was in the class for a year.
“It helped her learn to socially interact with kids her own age and to learn to play with other kids.”
Fitness instructor Wendy Wood said this isn’t the only benefit of introducing a fitness class to kids at such a young age.
With childhood obesity being such an epidemic in today’s world, it is important to start fitness lessons young.
Each hour-long class has its own theme. Last week, children pretended they were pirates and got to “walk the plank” using a balance beam.
The classes also introduce elements of jump rope, hopscotch and hula hoop.
“I use my imagination to come up with different ideas to keep them motivated,” said the instructor. “They’re just like big people. They get bored if they’re not busy.”
Classes begin with a story about that week’s theme, ending with a healthy message to help them in their daily lives.
In the past, the class has used themes such as insects, animals, dinosaurs, transportation and even “Mario Kart.”
“I have kids that age, so I see the TV shows they watch and I know about the games they like to play.”
Parents of this age bracket are always looking for something to do with their child, this way can learn basic fitness as well as get in some play time, said Wood.
“They’re learning how to do techniques properly so they do it right through like their lives.”
Classes cost $40 per eight-week session. The next class run Oct. 26 through Dec. 14 and is located at Evangelical Fitness Center, on the third floor of the Ambulatory Surgical Center on JPM Road.
For more information on Wee Workouts, or to register your child for classes, call 522-2693.
