So the retired high school teacher put notices in the mailboxes of people on McTague Street that he knew had children inviting them to a physically-distanced exercise meet-up on Wednesday.
“Everyone on the street said ‘yeah, let’s do this,’” Friesen said.
Ten children showed up to the first of what he hopes will be regular twice-a.week street meet-ups.
“They seemed to have a good time. No one was asking ‘is it almost over yet,’”
They were each given an assigned sidewalk spot on both sides of the street marked by a pilon.
“The key is social distancing. I spread them out on the street so they’re about 25 by 30 feet apart from each other. Then 30 to 35 minutes of a variety of different games that they can do in place but with some movement. They had to maintain their distance apart from each other the entire time.”
Friesen hopes to hold the meetups each Monday and Wednesday.
Those attending the first session ranged from Senior Kindergarten to Grade 10.
“The activity is so important for them, both for their physical and mental health,” he said.
Three different physical activities were held, including a cross-street game of rock/paper/scissors and a card game where each card revealed a different physical activity and the number of times they had to do it (spades were squats, hearts were jumping jacks etc.).
Friesen said it was as much a social and mental break as it was a physical one, with several of those taking part having not seen their friends in weeks.
“They get to reconnect and the parents love it, because for a half hour they get the kids outdoors and they get a break.”
Friesen, who during normal times now works helping set up intramural programs in schools, would like to see other neighbourhoods organize similar events, again keeping in mind that physical distancing is priority.
Anyone seeking some tips and advice on how to set it up can reach Friesen at [email protected].
