Seriously. Make them play outside.

The average 8-18 year old spends 7 hours and 38 minutes in front of some type of social media device. These are the same children suffering from symptoms that don’t allow them to concentrate at school or follow through with tasks at home.

A study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being shows evidence that children who regularly play outside in green spaces have milder ADHD symptoms than those who play indoors or in “built” outdoor spaces. Not only that, but ADHD symptoms are relieved after children are in contact with nature. Asthma symptoms and stress also seem to dissipate. And apparently, the greener the better.

Children are built to move. Their bodies need it, and they will find a way to soothe that need regardless of consequence. Babies love to be rocked, toddlers spin around, and children love rolling, cart wheeling, jumping, and tumbling. This isn’t a coincidence- their bodies need the movement for neurological development, and expelling that energy enables them to sit down and focus when needed.

Trading screen time for green time could be the best thing you can do for your child. Don’t hover over them or tell them which activity they should participate in. Just let them go, and make them figure it out. They’ll soon discover they do have imaginations, they’ll interact with other kids rather than characters on a screen, and they’ll have a healthy way to expend all that energy.

“Growth spiritually, physically, and growth emotionally,” Chastity says describing Practice CrossFit Kids and what it means to her.

As trainers, we’re going to challenge every child we’re fortunate enough to train. Practice CrossFit Kids trainers like Chastity are part of a program that demands each child reach their potential. We never let “good enough” slide, we constantly strive for better, and you may even catch us saying a prayer with the kids from time to time.

If you don’t want to see all that and more for your children, then drop them off at the door and we’ll take it from there. Otherwise, come in and watch a kids class conducted like an orchestra by trainers who truly care.

Warm-up:

Coaches choice

Skill:

Weakness work
*After warm-up and workout tutorial, perform 12 minutes of well supervised – and well focused – playtime. Choose from double-unders (triple-unders?), pistols, rope climbs, bar-ups and HSPU.

“Partner up”

A.

For time:

150m-Lunge

B.

For score:

150m-Run
Max rep-Push press 65/95
Max rep- Dips
AMRAP 10 minutes
*In teams of two, begin walking lunges, one athlete working at a time, until the distance is completed as a team. Spot time. Immediately transition to Event “B” for 10-minutes. While one athlete runs, the other athlete begins on push-press. When the runner returns, athletes switch stations (Run/push-press). The same thing continues, except the next time it’s dips and so on.

Post team and impression to comments.

Daily programming.

Event 2

Snatch deadlift
4×4@90%

Behind the neck Push jerk
1×4@60%
1×4@65%
2×4@70%

Teen, individual and Master competitors are encouraged to sign-up regardless of skill or ability. Battle of the Ages is a single day Event that will challenge veterans and motivate newbies. Sign-up now and join us June 22. 

Warm-up:

Coaches choice

Strength:

Clean and jerk
2×1@60%
3×1@70%
2×1@75%

For time:

15-Wall-Ball
15-CB Pull-ups
15-Push-ups
AMRAP 15 Minutes

Auxiliary:

Tabata-L-sit

Post impression to comments.

Daily programming.

-then-

Back extensions
5×10

Glute ham sit-up
5×10

Event 2

200m-Row every 90 seconds
10-Rounds
*Upon the last round, row 1000m, but begin with the 200m sprint and settle in for the rest of the piece.

Several months ago we started CrossFit court ordered; a free program for kids who break the law. Underage criminals are basically forced to CrossFit with us whether they like it or not. I started it because when I was a kid I got in trouble a lot, and I know that if I had CrossFit back then, life would have been better. Much better.

If I’m entirely honest, I also started the program so I could feel better about myself and the sins I’ve committed. I thought that by helping kids that act like I did, I could gain favor with God and he’d forget my less than charming qualities to date. Maybe my dead dad would be more proud of me too.

Well, God doesn’t forget and dead people don’t have pride in anything anymore. But these kids aren’t criminals, they’re just lost.

When I arrived to speak on behalf of one of my CrossFitters who broke the law today, I met him through a cage. He and another one of the kids in the program did some bad things to get locked up. For real locked up. It’s something to see a teenager in a closet sized cell with leg irons and handcuffs. It’s something even more when you know them, and you’re trying your best to help them.

I didn’t know what to say and I always know what to say.

I can’t say that it broke me, I’m not sure exactly what I have that can be broken anymore. It felt like someone slapping your back after you told them you had a sunburn. It made me want to start a fire and throw their parents in, their teachers, all the adults who had let them down and led them to where they were. Instead, I demanded we pray. It was one of the hardest prayers I’ve ever said. It made me remember that no matter how bad it is or who’s fault it could be, it’s ultimately our own responsibility to get better.

I feel for these kids because I usually agree with them and I share their anger. I think they recognize the hypocrisy in their fathers, the lies in their mothers, the examples we fail to set as their mentors. I know I did when I was their age. I revolted then, I still am.

It’s not a defense I think CrossFit will offer them, it’s direction. I wan’t them to know, just as I learned when I was young, that this world sucks and it always will and the worse thing you can do is become like everyone else in it. I want them to know that breaking the law is for pussies and it’s easy, but that challenging authority by upholding justice and discipline while murdering hypocrisy is a life well lived.

I can give them that through CrossFit, through our community.

I sat in the back of the courtroom after I said my peace and watched as a young man facing imprisonment did what I see so many of us do everyday – Blame everyone and everything else but himself. I felt ashamed because I know he learned that from his parents, his probation officers, me. After his many excuses the judge simply said, “welcome to life.”

All the issues that he and others like him will get locked up for tomorrow, are habits we teach them today because we won’t get off the couch, because we won’t set down the fork, because we can’t stop screwing random women while we’re married, because we say weed is addictive so eat cake instead, because we won’t take the time to pray with them when that’s what they need most.

Warm-up:

Coaches choice

Strength:

Front Squat
1×2@70%
1×2@75%
6×3@80%

Snatch
2×1@60%
3×1@70%
2×1@75%

For time:

30-Box Jumps 20/24
30-Toe 2 Bar
30-Swings 35/55
30-Thrusters @ 45 lb.

Post impression to comments.

The format reads:

-Strength
-Weightlifting
-Gymnastic
-Endurance

FSQ: 5×5 Tempo 5, 2, 1, 1 HAP
SN From Blocks @ (P1) 10×3
Ring Pull Up 10×3 Tempo 4, 1, 1, 1
Row: 1000 Max Effort x 5 w3:00 Rest

DL: 7×3 EMOTM 90%
CL from Block above knee 10 x 3
MU 10×2 (Load if possible)
Sprint: 100 x 10 w/1:00 Rest

Pull Up + Weight Est Max 5, 3, 2, 1, 1, 1
CLDL to Knee 10×3 HAP
HSPU in Parallettes 12×2
Row: 500/50 DU x 5

Our elementary playground was split up into thirds the way countries are today. Our thought process wasn’t quite up to the United Nations or anything, but looking back we acted like America and the slide was our homeland and we defended it. However, it did kinda odd me out, even as a 7-year-old, that the staff had chosen to build a slide on asphalt while the merry-go-round got the soft mulch. I guess babies get the bedding because that’s where the first graders hung out. The older kids got the prime real-estate; grass.

The rain had stopped maybe an hour before my class’s fifteen minutes of supervised freedom, but it still wasn’t dry. The grayish humidity made each drop bead up like it was on the hood of a freshly waxed car, and the creek that we played in from time to time was overflowing; that made it smell like mold. It didn’t help that the lunch room crew kept the doors open while they prepared the day’s $0.70 delicacy.

Once our feet hit the pavement we decided on our favorite warm-up; dodge-ball.

The goal was to stand with your back against a brick wall in an alley where the exit was behind the guy with the weapon – a basketball. Five people made it tight, so we started each game with ten. If you moved forward, you shortened the distance from you to ball, if you moved to either side too quickly you’d head-but someone or catch a knee. And God forbid you tried to move back, brick walls to the rear of your skull is even less fun than a basketball to the face . The game always ended when someone cried and one of the teacher’s on recess duty stole our ball.

We didn’t hit our slide everyday, but that particular day seemed as good as any, so most of Ms. Smith’s class began the journey across the countryside passing the younger kids playing on a tiny obstacle course, while the older ones sat the bench. They were too mature to get messy…we weren’t.

I loved that slide because I was good at it. Myself and a few other adventurous types would go down standing, face first, sideways, anything we could think of. When one of us got to the top, the other kids watched, even some of the older ones stopped to look even though they would never admit it.

I was the first up since it had rained. Instead of thinking, I should wipe this thing off, as I climbed the rusted ladder, I thought of how much faster the water would make me. I took my normal few seconds to survey my fans before I slide down standing, surfer style. As I shifted my weight to go, I instantly learned that I was right, water did make it faster; like flying a kite versus flying a plane faster.

I remember seeing my Velcro Transformer shoes fly-up as I fell off right from the start. It goes dark for a bit after that, then I remember my teacher’s hand holding mine as she guided through the crowd of kids hanging out in two rows watching like I was a death-row inmate being led to the chair. Why can I only see out of my right eye, I thought. I finally put my hand to my face and felt the warm liquid that covered it.

I don’t remember anything after that.

I left school early that day – awesome. I was forced to stay in bed the rest of the day – not awesome. All I thought of was that slide, all I thought was; I should have taken my shoes off.

At recess the next day, I skipped dodge-ball. I watched the teacher on guard. When she finally got distracted by the fifth grade country, I moved. By the time she turned around it was too late; I was shoeless this time, looking out at the entire playground like a diver looks at the water from the board. The coolest part wasn’t even that I made it to the bottom unharmed, it was that I made it to the bottom with a bandage on my head and the teacher screaming, “STOP.”

A week later, the slide was gone, but I was still a king. Even at that age there was something about someone who was willing to fail and try again. Bandaged and beaten or not.

I still remember the little black hair girl I had a crush on asking me if I was afraid. “No way,” I lied. More than I ever have been, I thought.

Everyone’s afraid, some just make a change take their shoes off and try again, others blame the slide and give-up.

Warm-up:

Coaches choice.

For time and for score:

“Grace”
(Full squat)

30-Clean and jerks 95/135

-then-

5-Burpees
100m-run
AMRAP 20 Minutes
*After Grace, there is a mandatory two-minute recovery. The second component is then performed within whatever is left of the original 20-minute time cap. For example, if Grace takes 10-minutes, then you have eight minutes for the second piece.

Strength:

5-Strict Hspu
5-Strict pull-ups
5 Rounds
*Weighted if possible.

Post impression to comments.

In the US, psychologists will say that ADHD is a biological disorder with biological causes, therefore medication is needed to treat it. In countries like France, ADHD is a condition that presents itself as a result of psycho-social or environmental causes. Rather than medicating, doctors and families will try to address the underlying cause of the problem. This could mean psychotherapy, family counseling, or accommodations in the classroom.

French clinicians also address dietary causes of problematic behavior. After adjusting the diet of a child and educating parents on which foods and artificial products to avoid, ADHD-like behaviors seem to subside. Unfortunately for families in America, clinicians may not even suggest dietary changes because of the heavy push for pharmaceutical treatment.

Parents need to be their child’s advocate for wellness. Doctors clearly don’t always know best, and there may be several solutions to level out or at least improve your child’s hyperactivity.

-Consider the home environment. Do your children feel safe, secure, and loved?

-Does your child have clear boundaries and rules they are to abide by? If they’re running the show in your home, this could have a large effect on their ability to concentrate and follow through on tasks. Letting your child have the final say on meals, bedtime, appropriate behavior, (and on and on) not only creates a monster, but prevents them from developing coping skills and discipline- they very skills they’re lacking if they’ve been labeled with ADHD.

-Is their diet free from processed foods, sugar, artificial dyes, and preservatives? If not, try eliminating these items.

These suggestions require a lot of work on the part of the parent, but the pay-off could be a happy and productive child, free of medication. Parents often say they’d do anything for their child. This is a great place to start.

Front Squat

1×6@60%,
1×6@65%
6×2@70%

For score:

400m-Run
1-Rope climb
5-Jerks 120/185
20-Air Squats
AMRAP 15 Minutes

Auxiliary:

Push-press
2×3@65%
2×2@70%

Snatch pull
4×3@80% (don’t bend the elbows