Monday, January 04, 2010
I recently came across the Spartan workout in my Mens Health subscription. This is a wonderful set of 10 exercises done back to back and is largely perfect for your monsters to do. Most of the exercises are body weight movements, some use a light dumbbell or kettle bell.
The idea is that you do each of the 10 exercises for a minute each, one right after the other. This is a circuit style training that ultimately works your entire body. One set (all 10 movements) is ended with a two minute break. You then do another set for three sets total.
Movements consist of goblet squats, mountain climbers, T pushups, etc. I will post the exact details of the workout tomorrow but wanted to share the plan as it is quite fun. For kids that have done pushups and sit ups for a good chunk of their lives, this routine should take them to the next level of fitness. My kids and I were both unable to make it all the way through the routine the first time through…a good sign.
Monday, December 28, 2009
I recently came across an article questioning whether kids should do push ups instead of receiving spankings or timeouts (here):
Discipline kids with pushups? This might not be a bad idea, considering that one day, I witnessed a 10-year-old boy discipline HIMSELF with pushups. His infraction? He interrupted two adults (I was one) in conversation, then promptly dropped to the floor and knocked off pushups. Of course, this boy had no problem doing the pushups; he had a black belt in karate. But he did enough to get fatigued. Karate training itself is a marvelous way to instill discipline and self-control in kids.
"I'm punishing myself," said Brad after apologizing, down on the floor and doing pushups. In some karate schools, the instructor makes kids do pushups for speaking when they're not supposed to. Pushups are generously dolled out in the military. I don't think it's a bad idea to make kids do pushups for discipline. But if the parent screams "THAT'S IT! 20 PUSHUPS, NOW!" this might make the child feel very negative towards exercise, and when he or she grows up, may completely avoid exercise.
However, if parents use a controlled take-charge voice to order the pushups, then children won't hate exercise when they're older; and doing pushups in gym class or in a fitness class at the health club won't bring back traumatic memories.
While pushups will bring on discipline in kids, they'll also improve fitness and even boost self-confidence and self-esteem in children.
So what should a parent do to discipline the child who's become so good at pushups, that the exercise is no longer a challenge? Pushups can always be modified to increase difficulty. There are actually 12 ways to add intensity to the exercise.
Read my article about that, and you'll see that most modifications are perfectly safe for kids.
All healthy children can learn pushups, even if they're overweight. You can start your kids off by having them first work off of their knees.
I tend to agree with the majority of what is said in this article. Push ups is an absolutely wonderful way of disciplining children. They generally benefit from pushups in that they can be punished on the spot, in public, in a restaurant, at the park…pretty much anywhere but in a bathroom (for obvious reasons). And there is also the added benefit that our country is FAT. And not only are we fat and getting fatter – being fat seems to be more and more acceptable to our culture. Pushups (and all other forms of physical activity for punishment) will help to keep your child trim and used to working out.
Screaming? I come from a Military background and frequently like to incorporate screaming (like a drill sergeant). It is not so much out of anger at a given situation or to create fear in my children as it is to generate the hop and pop attitude or to instill a sense of urgency in response to what is going on.
Screaming purely out of anger will most certainly not deliver the results you are seeking from a simple punishment. I would say that anger should not be included in any punishment of your children…take a walk and cool off instead. Removing anger from the discipline process of my children was one of the biggest reasons I switch to physical activities early on over spankings!
What to do when pushups don’t work any more? This is actually a good question. Both because I am asked about this all the time but also because my oldest boy can now do so many push ups in one sitting that it takes to much time to punish him with push ups! While you can try all the alternative push up methods offered in the article above there are also many many other activities that can be performed.
Here is a list of body weight exercises your kids can do for fun or punishment!
Burpees - I understand that these are favored among convicts in the California penal system due to the fact that one can get a total body workout with a minimum of space. Currently I don't do them, but these were my favorite exercise about 3 to 4 years ago. Start in a standing position with feet close together. Now, squat down and put the plams of your hands outside and slightly forward of your feet. With your weight supported by your hands, thrust your feet backward so that you are in the traditional "up position" for a standard pushup. Do a pushup and return to the up position. Immediately after the pushup, pull your feet up to your hands in one movement, and stand back up to the original position. This is one "rep". These will flat wear you out in short order, and are a good overall body conditioner. This exercise is great in that it challenges the lungs, coordination, balance, and muscular endurance. Breathing is the key, and you have to find your personal rhythm for this in order to progress with this movement. Try to do anywhere from 20 to 30 in the beginning. I used to do a "Twenty-up" workout with these for grins. Basically, you do a one rep set, then a two rep set, then three, then four, until you get to a twenty rep set for a total of 210 burpees. Sometimes it's easier to start with twenty and work your way down. Just keep the rests between sets to a minimum. Sweat city.
Bear crawls (my kids love these) - Find yourself some space. Now get down on all fours and walk around like a bear. Sounds easy, right? Do this for three to five minutes and see what you get out of it. Works the entire body. Good for a warm-up, too. Yes, you'll look like that kid from 'The Jungle Book', but this movement should not be overlooked.
Crab walk (but they hate these) - You're on all fours, but this time you're facing upwards. Very awkward, and much more of a challenge to your coordination than the bear crawls. Builds strength and endurance.
Crocodile walk - You're face down again. This time the object is to crawl along the floor with your torso as close to the floor as possible without touching. It's hard to describe the leg/foot and arm/hand positioning. Just plop down and figure out what works for you. Helps body control, and develops strength. With all of the crawling movements, just go until you feel fatigued. Track your progress by what distance you can cover. For instance, how many laps can you crawl around the mat or dojang? Set ever-increasing goals.
Lemon Squeezers - This used to be my favorite ab/torso strengthener, and I need to get back on them myself. Lie flat on your back with legs straight and arms extended above your head. Now, "jack knife" your body by raising your legs straight up, and crunching your stomach until your toes and fingers meet straight above your body. Legs and arms are straight throughout the movement. Imagine that you're squeezing a giant lemon with your body.
Neck nods - Here's an old boxer's trick to help build neck strength and endurance. The old-timers swear this will help you take a punch..give it a try. Lie flat on your back with legs straight, and hands at your side. Now "nod" your head until your chin touches your upper chest. Return your head to the mat, and repeat continously. Try to do 50 of these and see how you feel. For a harder challenge, nod for 50 reps, and then hold your head in the "up position" and begin turning your head from left to right at a slow but steady rate. Do these for 50. When you can nod for 100 you're getting some strength.
Lunges - Stand with feet close together. Now step forward with one leg into a deep lunge, and keep the other leg straight. Push yourself back up and repeat with the other leg. Be careful not to let your knee go farther than your toes on the leg that lunges forward. Lunges and hindu squats comprise my core movements for lower body strength and endurance. Don't overdo the lunges in the beginning unless your significant other doesn't mind helping you get off of the toilet (you think I'm joking...ha ha). Keep it to 10 each leg, and try to work yourself up to 20 to 30. I used to do 30 on each leg (total set of 60) with a 35 pound plate held at my chest. I need to get back there. Dumbbells are also good to add resistance when you start getting used to these.
Bootstrappers - Get yourself in a standard pushup position. Now walk your hands back until they are about 2 and a half feet in front of your toes (adjust accordingly for your body size). You are now in a "jack knife" position with legs straight. Now bend your knees until your butt touches your heels, arms are still straight. Straighten your legs and repeat continously. This is another good warm-up exercise for the legs, but also really helps strengthen the knees.
Exploding Star Jumps - Don't do these until your muscles and joints are warmed up pretty good. I recommend wearing athletic shoes and exercising on a somewhat soft surface (carpet or a mat). Slowly lower yourself into a full squatting position. Now explode upward and forward as high, hard and fast as you can. As your body reaches it's apex...extend your arms and legs into a "star" shape. Cushion your landing by flexing your knees, don't land with stiff legs. Jumping and extending not only develops power, but also challenges your coordination and body control. Go for quality, not quantity on these. Five to ten is plenty.
Hello Dollies – Lay on your back with your stomach facing up. You can put your hands under your butt or not depending on how difficult you want this exercise to be (hands over head is more difficult). Then raise your feet to six inches off the ground. Now in a four count movement open your legs as far as you can without putting your feet on the ground. That is one. Then close your legs…two. Open them again…three. Close them again …four. Do 20 four counts and your tummy will be burning!
Flutter Kicks – Lay on your back as before with your hands under your butt or not. Raise your feet to six inches off the floor. Then raise one leg to 36 inches off the floor. Now alternate kicking one leg up and one leg down as though you were swimming. This is another four count exercise.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
I recently assigned the task of leading morning PT to my oldest boy. This teaches him many aspects of being a leader. Most important the concept of leading by example instead of the more often followed path of “do as I say, not as I do”. This also teaches the rest of the kids to respect him as the assigned leader in a given scenario regardless of what they think of him at the time. Who ever is in charge – unless of course the request is outrageous – is in charge and is responsible for leading the team.
Obviously this only really applies to a group of monsters…but the lesson is still a good one. Put your kid in boy scouts if you only have one. In that environment they will have the opportunity to learn how to be in charge in a manner that is respectable vs. leading by force.
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Tuesday, December 08, 2009
This is from an email passed around by my mom and her friends as sort of a joke - funny ha ha - but which is also sadly true. Let me add that the ladies that were sending the email around are experienced award winning teachers from the California school system…they know what they are talking about as they have experienced it!
Last week I purchased a burger at Burger King for $1.58. The counter girl took my $2 and I was digging for my change when I pulled 8 cents from my pocket and gave it to her.. She stood there , holding the nickel and 3 pennies , while looking at the screen on her register. I sensed her discomfort and tried to tell her to just give me two quarters , but she hailed the manager for help. While he tried to explain the transaction to her , she stood there and cried. Why do I tell you this? Because of the evolution in teaching math since the 1950s:
1. Teaching Math In 1950s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit ?
2. Teaching Math In 1960s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price , or $80. What is his profit?
3. Teaching Math In 1970s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?
4... Teaching Math In 1980s
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
5. Teaching Math In 1990s
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living? Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers , and if you feel like crying , it's ok. )
6. Teaching Math In 2009
Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80. Cuanto dinero ha hecho?
Reasons why I home school
I must admit that this is one reason why I love home school. Although we are part of the CAVA program which to some degree provides us with our curriculum and makes sure that we adhere to California’s education standards (I grin every time I say this)…we still have the power to address the little things in the manner that we choose. Such as making sure that our children understand math for what it is. We don’t use it to teach other people’s agendas such as global warming and we don’t have to teach it in a manner that the non-English speakers can understand it! As a result my kids can get around pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters as though their life depended on it (although in reality they just have an urge for a gum-ball).
How do I ensure that my kids are good with basic math skills such as money calculations?
This is surprisingly easy! Every time you get a cup of coffee or other monetary transaction that renders change – hold onto it. My mom inadvertently showed us a trick that seems to work quite well. While I am not (always) one to bribe my children I found that incentivizing my kids with quarters for work done that was not expected of them is awesome. An example of this: every time my kids go to Grandma’s house they are expected to do a few things such as pick up after themselves, put away toys, etc. However, the kids also know that if they make the bed, clean someone else’s mess, or do some task that was not technically their’s to do – they will get a quarter. As a result my kids (or at least some of them) hop right out of bed to get some chores done. Then they line up and wait for quarters. This works great! Add to this random change that is accumulated elsewhere and my children end up with a pocket full of random change. Now when we go to the candy store or video store (where they get their gum-balls) we make the kids go to the attendant to make proper change be it a dollar or a quarter. They are forced every couple of days to do this so that they can change in their money for what ever. This of course leads to monsters that love their numbers.
Example of success:
One of my girls just had a birthday. She accumulated over $80 in birthday cards and the like. Every time she got some form of money either in cash or card it was added to the total. From there she was allowed to go shopping for “girl things”. She kept a tally of how much she had vs. how much she was buying and had no problem with this. When she got home she proceeded to tell me how much she had, how much each thing cost, and what she had remaining (because she wanted to do more shopping and spend every last dime…something to work on). This system works!
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Howdy! My name is Andrew Siemer. This is a down and dirty introduction about me so that you know my background in the hopes that I can shed a little light on where I come from (read at your own risk).
Not knowing what I was going to do after a troublesome high school career I went into the military right after graduation. Not knowing what I was going to do while in the military I did my best while in training and went from Infantry training, to airborne school, to the Ranger Indoctrination Program (think hell week). Having passed RIP (a great abbreviation that sums up the experience) I then went to my final resting place (sorry – had to throw that in) at the 2nd Ranger Battalion. I was there until things started to get a bit repetitious (and my wife at the time started to complain about long deployments) at which time I moved over to a Long Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance (LRRS) company (whom I still had to deploy to Panama with). That group was shut down eight months after I arrived at which time I moved over to a LEG (non elite, nothing special) outfit…as I waited to get out of the military.
I mentioned that I had a “wife at the time” which is a nice way of saying that I got married while I was WAY to young (as many military folk do). We also had my first kid (Riley/girl) while in the military that has been dragged through the divorce process (no fun). Shortly after getting divorced, I quickly got re-married (don’t worry, we have been together for 10 years now)…(not a rebound girl as many of my friends had stated). With my current wife I had an additional 5 kids (Drake/boy, Trinity/girl, Logan and Mathias/boys/twins, and McKayla/girl). I probably would have had more having been raised with the expression “if ones good…tens better”…but my wife insisted I get fixed after McKayla.
When I got out of the military, like many other times, I didn’t really know what I was going to do with myself. I tried a blue collar labor oriented job in the form of electrical work…it didn’t stick! From there I signed up for a CAD program at ITT Tech where I had my first real taste of computers. While there I met some computer oriented guys which sort of sparked a major fascination with computers (I am obsessive as you will come to see). I finished my associates degree in the CAD program…and never used the education. I then proceeded to job hop my way into the computer consulting field taking any job that presented something new, learning along the way. One thing led to another and I ended up starting my first blog (a technical blog). That landed me a book deal (ASP.NET 3.5 Social Networking)…which then landed me some paid article deals…which led to my creating a podcast, which is now leading to the creation of my own user group - and so on.
All the while I was job hopping and popping out monsters (what I call my kids) at an alarming rate (well…not to the wife and I…but all the on-lookers were quite concerned). The ex-wife called it “the baby parade” once (we like that jibe best). But somewhere in the mix of a busy life, the turmoil of a young relationship between two young people with lots of responsibility and little maturity, and the raising and home schooling of our herd of monsters – we did alright. So much so that we have been asked and told many variations of the following: “How do you have so many kids without taking sedatives?”, “How do you get your kids to behave like that?”, “Your kids are so good…let me give you 20% off your meal!” (we like this one a lot and have had it occur quite often!), “How do you punish your kids?”, “Do they ever fight?”, “I just wanted to shake your hand and tell you that I appreciate your parenting skills”, “You should write about how you parent”, so on and so forth. The only thing we have heard time and time again that we really have grown quite sick of is when we have all the family walking in a line or riding on a flat bed push cart at Costco: “What isle did you find them on?” – HA HA HA!
I love to write (another thing I had no idea about…just sort of fell into it). The combination of my passion for being loud and sharing everything combined with people asking for the information has led me to finally set up this blog at MilitaryManners.com. The key fact to keep in mind while reading my writing is this…and it holds true for 99% of all blogs that you probably read:
BEING AN AUTHOR DOES NOT MAKE ME AN AUTHORITY!
I do not claim to be a person with any formal education in child rearing. I am simply sharing my stories, life experiences, and observations as they pertain to the raising of my own children. Take from it what you will. Laugh when possible. Get pissed at me when you disagree and feel free to flame at me asiemer@hotmail.com (just know that I will respond to your flame here). Most of all enjoy it as much as possible! Just keep in mind that if you don’t like what I have to say most of the time…you can always click the [X] at the top of this application!
~Andrew Siemer