All We Really Need to Know About Health, We Learned in Kindergarten: 10 Healthy Lessons

In kindergarten, we totally learned that these are okay in moderation. Credit: Carsten Schertzer

Remember that whole kindergarten theme we’re going for with our Five-Year Birthday celebration? Well, today’s post is certainly inspired by it! We FBGs sat down and reflected on our own kindergarten school experiences and then applied them to our healthy lives today. Turns out, that just like this book says, everything we learned in kindergarten is pretty much all we needed to know about living a (fit) life, too…

10 Healthy Life Lessons We Learned in Kindergarten

1. Take a nap. I learned to take a frickin’ nap when my body needs it. I welcomed in the New Year by going alkaline and thus had to give up caffeine. At first I was a hot mess, but after the stuff was out of my system for good, I no longer used caffeine as a crutch to medicate my fatigue. Sometimes your body needs to rest after a strenuous workout. Sometimes it’s your period causing havoc. Whatever the cause may be, I’ve learned to be okay with taking naps. —Tish

2. Be anything you want to be. In kindergarten, it’s totally acceptable to be an artist one minute, and then a kickball rockstar the next, and then an astronaunt, and then a flying superhero who is AWESOME on the drums. While certainly having a career in all of those things may be challening, kindergarten taught me that it’s okay to dream big, try LOTS of new things and have the inner belief that you really can be anything you want to be and you really can do anything you set your mind to. —Jenn

3. Make the most of recess. Just because recess is only half an hour, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t live it up. I don’t even know how many games we used to play during our short recess periods, but we had so much fun. So now, even if I only have 15 minutes or half an hour of free time, I know I can be really active or have a really good time. —Kristen

4. We cannot live on sweets alone. It is possible to eat too many sweets. Treats like cookies are all the more special because they’re a sometimes food. —Erin

5. Snack on apples. Kindergarten taught me that Mrs. Apple was awesome, and I never forgot it. I love apples and almond butter. It’s my favorite snack in the whole world. (Another kindergarten lesson—snack often!) —Tish

6. Share everything. Whether it’s your toys, your lunch or your workout, everything is better with friends. And sharing really is caring. —Jenn

7. Celebrate your achievements. Whether it’s winning a race or counting to 100 for the first time, give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. —Erin

8. Take a time out when you need one. Sometimes a time out is best for everyone. It’s not a punishment for me now, but a chance to reset when I feel overwhelmed or upset. It certainly helps me, and there’s no doubt it makes life more pleasant for those around me. —Kristen

9. Treat others how you’d like to be treated. The Golden Rule is definitely a life lesson—and it also applies to being healthy. Be nice to others; cheer them on. And, certainly, don’t judge others based on appearances. Skinny, fat, strong or not, we’re all beautiful in our own ways. —Jenn

10. You don’t need to be fancy. When you’re a kid, you can make a game out of a hacky sack and your imagination. As an adult, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to get fit. Tried-and-true exercises like lunges, squats and push-ups are tried-and-true for a reason. —Erin

What healthy life lessons did you learn in kindergarten? —The FBGs