just random teenagers. Nothing too crazy. Although, really, these are drawings so why
be boring, right? There you go, Marco. Have some 'spring-feet'.They look great.
Now, the big difference between Kim and Marco is that Kim leads a healthy, physically active life. She plays soccer, break-dances, eats well and generally takes good care of herself.
Marco, unfortunately, doesn’t make the healthiest choices. He doesn't really get much exercise either, which is kind of a waste if you think about it, because he's got spring-feet now. Anyway, this is a problem, because making healthy choices and being physically active
is really important at their age. It can help you make friends, do well at school, and feel
good about yourself.
So, it's pretty important! But to be able to make healthy choices, and to become active,
you have to learn health and physical literacy.
Look at it this way – if you want to be good at rocket science, you don't just go
ahead and start building a rocket. That … could be a problem.
If you want to make a rocket properly, you have some basic skills to learn first. Things
like math, physics and engineering. And then you use those skills to actually design and
build the rocket.
Well, it's the same with being physically active and making healthy choices. You have
to learn and practice some basic skills.
So, let’s look at physical literacy. To feel comfortable and confident when you're
being active, it helps to learn things like how to dodge, hop, skip, jump, kick, overhand
throw, catch and run.
On the other hand, if you're really, really good at them – you can compete in the ultimate
physical activity: soccer-basket-rugby-bowling ball!
(Clears Throat) Okay we're still working on trying to come up with the rules for that
one.
If you don't feel comfortable with these fundamental skills, you might not choose to participate
in a bunch of fun activities and sports.
The same is true if you want to be healthy. To be health literate, you have to learn basic
thinking skills like communicating, and knowing what you're feeling. Through these, you develop
the ability to make healthy choices, like eating well, not smoking and making good decisions
about your emotional wellbeing.
So, for example, if Marco were health literate, he'd know that a well-balanced dinner is better
than, let’s say… a bucket of Martian food.
Um, I don't think so, Marco.
So, let’s have Marco learn the skills of health and physical literacy. Then he can
confidently pursue the activities he likes, have a strong sense of wellbeing, and hopefully
just become generally happier and healthier, and not just for today, but for the rest of
his life.
Plus, we're going to let him keep the spring-feet, because they're just awesome.
I see good things in your future Marco.
