How the Wiggles helped Diabetic Mommy
by Elizabeth "BJ" Woolley (02-12-2003)

(Bubba keeping the beat)

If you have a toddler like me, you might find it near impossible to find time to exercise. I know, I know, you CAN chase the little one around the park or go on the play gym with them, but that might not be a reliable way of getting your heart rate up - plus I live in the desert and sometimes days are way too hot for a brisk walk. Being a diabetic mommy, it is important that I give my cardiovascular system a nice reason to work harder once in a while.

I tried using my old exercise videos, but had to stop when my son stood before me with his Monsters, Inc. tape in his hand, demanding I put that on the television instead. I did try to work around him, but it became harder and harder to concentrate while he screamed, turned bright red, seemed to stop breathing, and flung himself down on the floor seventeen different ways for a good half hour until he fell asleep. My stress level was through the roof. I nixed that plan.

Next, I tried exercising while he watched a movie. Most of the time Bubba watches a movie for a couple minutes, and then loses interest. He then looks to me to play with him. This day was no different. I was laying on the floor on my back, lifting dumbbells up and down. Bubba came over and tried to pull me up. I continued to exercise. He climbed up on my stomach and rammed his butt into my belly. I pulled up my knees to deny him access. Next, he came over and tried to sit on my face. I simply turned my head sideways so I could still draw in life-giving air. Finally, he came up with a foolproof plan. He got on all fours, made all indications he was trying to kiss me, and bit my nose. Ok, bratty behavior aside, he was telling me he wanted my attention.

The next night, I pondered my problem. I didn't necessarily need a rigid program, I just needed an opportunity to get moving that could be fit within a definite timeframe and needed to be something that was entertaining enough for Bubba to have fun participating with me while not being so simple or inane that I would feel my sanity slipping away day by day.

I remembered an advertisement on one of his Barney tapes for another tape that had four guys in different colored shirts who did simple little dances and movements to catchy songs. I wondered if Bubba would like them and if I would be able to tolerate them over time.

The next day I headed to our local big box toy store, and found the tapes. They were a little group called the Wiggles that I knew nothing about. It happened to be the holiday season, so I bought the tapes "Wiggly Wiggly Christmas" and "Yummy Yummy." I headed home immediately to see what would happen.

I first sat and watched the tapes with Bubba. I pointed out all the different characters and different items Bubba knew the names of (lights, dog, dinosaur, etc.). He actually sat still and watched the whole tape, seemingly mesmerized. I initially felt bad. Was I intentionally hooking my child on television? The next day he brought me one of the tapes and asked me in his own little way to put it on (grunting while pointing at the TV). He watched it. Then he wanted to watch it again. Later that day he wanted to watch it once more. I thought I created a couch potato and considered giving the tapes away…then something amazing started to happen. Bubba started to stomp his foot and try to keep time with the music. It was an exaggerated high step then hard stomp on the floor. He was totally offbeat. Stomp…stomp, stomp….stomp….stomp, stomp, stomp, etc. However, he was learning. I could see the smoke coming out of his ears. It was a definite camcorder moment.

Eventually he began to keep time pretty well and he was copying the hand movements, then the feet. Pretty soon he was getting to know the general movements to a whole song. He could even do them on his own without the tape if I sang the song to him.

All the while, I was getting pretty good exercise. These tapes are not intended to be a workout program, and they do not follow a warm-up, exercise, and cool down format. There are also little skits or times when there is no singing or dancing. In addition, I could not even dream of hopping and jumping about like Jeff, Anthony, Murray, and Greg. Yes, I know all their names now - real and fictional, as well as the other characters that pop up on the tapes. I simply moved, danced, and had fun. I never did anything that was uncomfortable or hurt. I did not try to get the moves down exactly. If they guys jumped, I spun around and wiggled my hips. If they hopped, I just marched in place. It was not an exact science, I just moved and got my heart rate up, making sure I did not overdo it. All the while my laughing muscles got a workout too because Bubba was goofing off right along with me, being silly and being highly entertained by mama trying to act like a Wiggle. I did see some progress. At first I got winded after just one song. After a bit, I was able to dance through the entire tape.

As for my fear I was raising a couch potato, that is history now. Bubba interacts with the programs and moves about. I can see his imagination being stimulated. I am seeing him interact with a program the way I did when I was little.

I am a child of the 70's/80's. I feel I grew up in one of the most awesome times ever. The shows aimed at children in those days were the kind of shows that sparked imagination and action. I tore up the neighborhood with my bionic legs. I wore tin foil around my head when I acted out adventures with my pal Shazam. Whenever I watched Star Trek episode, I could not WAIT until I could go and add more gadgets to my cardboard bridge down in the basement. My arms got great exercise deflecting bullets with my gold bracelets when I fancied myself to be Wonder Woman. I ran for my life from Grumpy that mean old dinosaur from the Land of the Lost and tried to escape from Witchie Poo's grasp (HR Puffnstuff). I ran, I jumped, I dodged, and I rolled. I believed I could jump as high as the bionic woman and save the world like the Super Friends. I played all damn day sometimes and would go to bed absolutely exhausted.

The majority of children's shows I see today are ones that encourage the child to be sitting under a blankie with a snack. There is not much room for imagination because the shows are not inspiring or silly enough for kids to want to act them out. This is not the case with the Wiggles. Bubba just needs to hear the opening music, and he's up and dancing. He has not gotten to where he can sing the songs yet, but I see him showing the dances to his play animals. He also pretends to cook or chop veggies like they do on the tapes. He even squawks and acts insane like Captain Feathersword (a regular Wiggles character).

I think this can explain the phenomenon where many of the parents are also avid Wiggles fans. The programs are reminiscent of something we dearly miss and long to be able to give to our children. So, go ahead, if you get a chance and check these guys out. Enjoy seeing your little one learn and act silly - and experience the benefits yourself!

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