Today was a special day at Romper Room as the site celebrated its First Anniversary.  Madden, Doolittle, Pirouette, The Conductor, and YHC dug up some playground games in honor of the start of school.  Given that many 2.0s are starting the school year “virtually”–or in some other modified fashion–we thought we would modify school recess.  Each family started by creating an imaginary sandbox where only they could play.  This kept all of the games in bounds and all of the PAX in a socially distant and compliant manner.

It quickly became clear that some of these games were ones that some PAX had never played before.  Still everyone played along, and we worked up a good appetite for the mandatory anniversary treats.

WARM UP

• Shadow jump rope in place
• Tether ball Sequence
  • Pole rises x 15
  • Twists x 10 IC
  • Ducks/squats x 20
• Slow hop scotches x 10 IC
• Slides to the ground (reach up to the sky and then down to your toes–led by Madden)
• Swings (with or sans 2.0)

THE THANG

Animal Tag

• Everyone gets into low squat and plays tag with family unit (oldest is “it” first);
• Switch to crab walk and repeat (youngest is “it” first);
• Switch to bear crawl and repeat (best looking is “it” first).

It was around this point that YHC remembered to count off for a total of 39 pupils at recess.

Four Square

• Perform travelling exercises in a square going counterclockwise, stationary exercises at every corner (ala bear in a box).

1. Lunge walk x 10; squats x 10
2. Crab walks x 10; LBCs x 10 IC
3. Bunny hops x 10; Bonnie Blairs x 10

MARY

• Bench planks: One PAX starts in high plank; Ms and 2.0s pretend PAX is a bench
•  So that the Ms and 2.0s did not miss out on strengthening their core, everyone did a plank hold, we counted off again.  Curiously, we only got to 38 and then someone explained that 2 people left.  Funny math.
• Wall ball wall sit—Families attempted to simultaneously do people’s chair by leaning on one another.  Extra points were earned if PAX sang “Lean on Me” at the top of their lungs while in the pose.

NAME-O-RAMA

For the one-year anniversary, 39 PAX were there (at some point or another) with 3 FNKs:  Goalie, Guppy, and Baby Driver.  Knope noted that Romper Room has become one of the most popular sites in F3 Churham and maybe in the Nation.

COTS

As YHC mentioned in my concluding prayer, we are living in unprecedented times.  Because there are so many things that we cannot control and so many things we cannot do in the way we used to do them (like playing on a playground or working out), it can be easy to throw our hands up and give up.  Today’s movement was designed to remind us that, with some creativity, modifications, and a can-do attitude, we can still live meaningfully and with love.  YHC challenged everyone to go out and support their family, friends, and community.

PAX hung around to enjoy fellowship and delicious cupcakes, muffins, cookies, and cold brew coffee by brought by Castaway, Mrs. Wilson, Puck, and Sprinkles.

Photo credit:  Castaway