The following are easy and fun “exercise “ ideas to keep kids active and fit without knowing they are doing it. Limiting TV, Video Game and Computer time to a total of 2 hours a day frees them up to go do these things.
AROUND THE HOUSE
1. Walk your dog
2. Walk your neighbor’s dog (with permission of course)
3. Give the dog a bath. The bigger the dog, the BIGGER the workout!
4. If you have a yard, pick up sticks or trash
5. Pull weeds
6. Rake the yard or garden
7. Wash the car
8. Do the Spring cleaning and move the furniture around and clean the house.
9. Run the vacuum
10. Wash windows
11. Clean your room
PLAY
1. Play tag
2. Play hopscotch
3. Jump rope
4. Fly a kite
5. Toss a Frisbee
6. Ride your bike
7. Skate
8. Ride your skateboard
9. Build a fort and play cowboys and Indians
10. Put on your bathing suit and run through the sprinkler
11. Go swimming (never without an adult to supervise!)
EXERCISE
1. Jump rope (boxers do it, and look how strong & healthy they are!)
2. Do jumping jacks
3. Do push-ups
4. Do sit-ups
5. Put on an exercise video and get a good workout
LEARN
1. Put on an exercise video and get a good workout
2. Learn to juggle
3. Learn to twirl a baton
4. Take a class in martial arts and learn to defend yourself
5. Learn yoga, either at a class or from a video
6. Learn ballroom dancing
7. Learn hip-hop dancing
8. Take classes in ballet, jazz, or tap dancing
9. Learn to play golf, or caddy for someone else
COMPETE / CONTEST
1. Have every family member wear a pedometer, see who takes the most steps.
2. Have a water balloon fight .
3. Have a hula hoop contest, and see who can keep the hoop up the longest
4. Have relay races with your friends or family
5. Play touch football
6. Play basketball games 1 on 1, 2 on 2…..
7. Race-walk
8. Play soccer
9. Play softball
10. Play badminton
11. Play tennis
12. Play miniature golf
13. Go bowling
TRIP / ADVENTURE
1. Ask your parents or grandparents to take you to a natural area or park where you can take a hike
2. Visit the zoo, amusement park, or museum (lots of walking)
3. Sign up for a charity walk-a-thon with your parent, grandparent, or other relative
4. Visit an amusement park
5. Visit historic sites
