10 Simple Exercise Games to Play with Children!
Here at Trained, we urge parents to introduce to their children, the healthy practice of keeping active from an early age, so that they establish the habit and learn to appreciate an active lifestyle!
So, where do you begin? Because kids like having fun, we recommend picking activities for kids that are so enjoyable that they don't even realize they're exercising.
You may have heard that children should not lift weights and you are partially correct. Children should not lift heavy weights. Instead, kids should practice coordination, which can include typical weightlifting routines as long as the weights are low. The younger the youngster, the more they should practice simple motor skills.
They should be performing squats, jumping jacks, side shuffles, pushups, and pullups. They can focus on fine movement patterns and very complicated motions as they become older, such as fine-tuning hand and foot positions.
With that in mind, we've compiled a list of our favorite enjoyable home workout games and activities for kids that will keep them moving while helping improve their coordination, conditioning and general strength-while also making them laugh!
Exercise should be enjoyable for children. Consider it "exercise play" rather than "working out."
1. Timed Scavenger Hunt
Hide five tennis balls around the home and write five different workouts on five separate pieces of paper, one for each tennis ball, such as 20 jumping jacks or ten pushups.
When the youngster locates the tennis ball, they must finish the activity and return the tennis ball to "home base," which can be anywhere.
They have five minutes to return all five tennis balls to the starting point!
2. Shuttle Run
Place a single marker on the floor, such as a cone or tennis ball or plastic cup, and place a set of five markers about 30 feet away. Begin from the single marker and sprint 30 feet to the set of five markers.
Pick up one marker, return it to the starting point and position it next to it. Repeat for each marker.
Once finished, replace the five markers 30 feet away (kids love to help set things back up). Set up two lanes side by side for a race to offer some competitiveness.
Instead of just sprinting, apply different forms of footwork to make it more interesting. Side shuffles, grapevines, and backpedaling are options. You may even move back and forth using bear crawls and crab walks.
To spice things up even further, perform an activity after jogging down to the set of five markers and before picking up a marker to return with, they can complete three to five rounds of pushups, squats, situps, or jumping jacks. Combine a footwork pattern with an exercise to amp it up!
3. Squat Relay
Line up the kids on opposite sides of the room, facing each other. On "go," all of the children sprint to the center of the room and meet in the middle. They must perform three squats, high-fiving each other with both hands in between each rep.
They then return to the beginning place and repeat the process. The emphasis is on high-fives and social contact. If you have a large group, you may have the lines change sideways between exercises so that each time, the kids can meet a new friend in the middle of the room.
4. Jumping Rope
Children will enjoy jumping rope! Begin by showing them how to make a simple jump in which they jump rope with both feet together, then alternate feet.
Then go to crisscross and jumping rope jumping jacks.
Certainly, you'll need to know how to do all of these things as well. The best way to teach your kids to be healthy and fit is by being active and healthy yourself!
5. Bear Crawl
Walking on all fours with your belly facing the floor is known as the bear crawl (the opposite of the crab crawl). This is a terrific whole-body workout that requires youngsters to engage their limbs and core.
Begin by simply having kids practice this action, then progress to incorporating it in more challenging activities, such as an obstacle course or forcing them to race to a certain area in the house and return.
Being physically active as a family not only benefits your family's health, but it also provides great valuable time to bond.
6. Jumping Fun!
Jumping is an excellent approach to enhance muscle strength, endurance, and heart health. Children enjoy getting their feet up and off the ground.
Play a fun Simon Says game with a parent as Simon. Begin with hopping up and down, then on to any other form of jumping exercise.
Jumping jacks, one-foot hops, tuck jumps (bending your knees while jumping), criss-cross jumps (crossing your legs or feet while jumping), and hurdle leaps (jumping forward and backward or side-to-side over an unseen hurdle) are some options.
7. Crab Walking Fun!
Crab walking is a fun activity that also helps children develop core and arm strength.
Begin by teaching your children how to do this movement (torso and tummy up while moving using hands and feet on the ground with legs bent at the knees).
Then, set up exciting activities for your children to do while moving in this stance!
Among The Suggestions Are:
- Balancing act: Allow children to balance objects (such as a plush animal or a plastic cup) on their stomachs and compete to see who can walk the longest without dropping it. See how many plush animals your child can balance on their belly while maintaining this stance.
- Set up an obstacle course: for the youngsters to go through while doing the crab crawl.
- Race: Get ready to crab crawl to the finish line!
8. Follow the Leader
Allow your children to follow you around the home, front yard or neighborhood.
Make sure to vary the tempo and use active actions such as leaping, stomping, tip-toeing, crouching, crawling, and so on.
Everyone will have a great time, and you'll probably get just as much exercise as the kids!
10. Yoga and Stretching
Poses may be an easy and enjoyable method for children to exercise. Tree Pose, Downward-Facing Dog, Upward-Facing Dog, Cobra, Child's Pose and Happy Baby are a few simple and enjoyable positions for children to attempt.
When you're through, stretch your muscles. A stretching and cool-down regimen can also help youngsters shift into a more relaxed condition after an exercise and prevent injuries.
Side stretches, arm circles, arms to the sky, calf stretch, hamstring stretches, fingers-to-toes and runner's stretch are all simple to do!
Regular physical exercise is important for overall health, particularly for developing youngsters. Being physically active promotes a child's physical health as well as cognitive and emotional benefits such as improved attention span and mental well-being for the whole family! Check out our previous articles:
How To Encourage Kids to Exercise
How To Teach Kids Badminton with 4 Easy Steps!
Get Started!
Make physical activity a family priority.
If you do want to motivate your youngster to begin exercising, the greatest way to do it is to lead by example. The largest element that can influence whether kids are going to be healthy and active is what their family is doing. Rather than expecting your children to accomplish things on their own, choose to be involved with them as much as possible.
Take a family stroll a bike ride or have a game of badminton! Being physically active as a family not only benefits your family's health, but it also provides great valuable time to bond.
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