Instant Exercise with a Side of Science : Slacklining

kids on a slackline

Slacklining allows a person to quickly and consistently experience and work against a range of stresses and forces that our bodies are fighting against all the time…without the advantage of the ground’s stability! One of the reasons you don’t really pay attention to all these forces throughout your day is because the ground you are walking on or the chair you are sitting in is stable. The ground is pushing up on the chair with the same force you are pushing down on it…but on a slackline, what you are pushing down against is flexible. And wobbly.

Anything + Fitness

run to the tree

Hey, go run to that tree and back!
Wow, great job!
Hey, go run to that tree and back!

What is your favourite way to incorporate exercise into your day?

This is an example from just a 10 minute break

Unsocializing? Unicycling, For Example

unicycle lessons

Among the many unschooling and life benefits that come from unicycling is the socializing. (one of the other ones is that if you can physically walk and have access to a unicycle, you have all you need to be able to do it)

What’s the first thing people think about when trying to get your kids more socializing? Sports. Sign them up for soccer or baseball, right? Not necessarily!

Unschooling : Where Unicycling Lessons Turn Into Ballet Experience

unicycle ballet

I don’t want to make their unicycle lessons feel like ‘lessons’. So we bring them out with us to places here and there and get a minute or two more of practice.

You may or may not be a unicyclist if you are reading this. If you are, you would notice how naturally he’s picking his unicycle off the ground and placing it under him. Learning to unicycle is often compared to dropping your unicycle 1000 times then you can ride it…that’s not entirely accurate, but it’s close!)

Don’t Run Too Fast Down a Hill, Like I’ve Been Saying For Years

running down a hill too fast

I figured he understood not going too fast down a hill, I’ve told him several times throughout the years (at hills) and always made sure to keep him going slow. (just in case)

Well, today just in case happened. He outran his own legs in a couple of strides and was out of control.

Why There Is No Recess At Unschool

looking inside a giant tree

Why separate learning from play?

Here was a neat little impromptu climbing adventure on the way home from our adventure. The trees along our river are quite large and old. Seems one of them had gotten struck by lightning recently and had been started to be taken away. Clearly only a several-day job; we had to experience it now, if we ever..haha..wood.

Freemount Attempt: Toddler’s Continuing Unicycle Journey

toddler unicycle pickup

Here is the first time she wanted to try it outside…She wanted to bring her unicycle and bubbles. (He brought a unicycle and a ball)

Initially, with him, I thought it would be great to see how young I could get him riding one. I quickly lost interest in that for a variety of reasons.

When Things Don’t Go According To Plan

fanshawe dam snails

There were several great examples of unschooling here. We went to our local dam to check it out. What would they be interested I wondered; water levels? water pressure? lake/river transition? Height? Cement and steel? I figured I’d show it to them from the road up top, and then drive them down the road to see it from the bottom.

30 Seconds of Unicycling, 20 Minutes of Unschooling

unicycle shadow training

So I ask the the five and almost three year old, ‘Anyone want to make a giant unicycle shadow video out in the dark?’

I told them it would not be dark enough for 20 minutes. I thought it was going to take me 10 minutes to get ready, but it took 20, with two live shadows on me the whole time…they were excited.

There Are More Advantages to Pop Research than Pop Quizzes.

Here’s a nice little gem we found on our way to mom’s work, a lake surrounded by trees and a walking path, nestled near the industrial area of town.

A little section of nature that I had passed by countless times over the years. It wasn’t open to cycling, why would I ever pop in?

Because now I have kids!

[video] Hill Climbing With Kettlebells

adding kettlebells to hillclimbs

What a great addition to all the fun of hill climbs (and descents)…add kettlebells!

When the 6yo told me the weights weren’t heavy enough to make him tired, I first thought of getting him more weights. I didn’t think about

Almost-Winter is Upon Us

DIY Snow Dance Floor

Well, the days of almost winter are upon us. Snowsuits one day, riding scooters the next. Wet mitts, wet boots, happy, tired kids. The days start dark. Dark enough for the 4yo to call it ‘night’ and stand her ground when being corrected.