It’s extremely important that your kids get up and exercise throughout the day while they are at home. With health a main priority right now, getting your kids moving around is important since it is good for both their body and mind.
According to the CDC, “…physical activity can have an impact on cognitive skills and attitudes and academic behavior, all of which are important components of improved academic performance. These include enhanced concentration and attention as well as improved classroom behavior.”
Some of the health benefits includes:
- Decrease risk of obesity
- Reduces risk of anxiety
- Improves memory and concentration
- Promotes better quality of sleep
Limit Screen Time
While at home parents are either worried that their kids have too much screen time and are spending a lot of time on the couch.
Did you know that the average child will watch about 1200 hours of television per year—or a little over 3 hours a day? That is more time spent in front of the TV than spent in school (900 hours a year)!
And the more TV that a child watches, the more they want to watch. Then add in smartphones, video games and the like into the mix.
Get Out On Nice Days
On the other hand, parents might be dealing with kids that are getting a little stir crazy while at home.
It is recommended to go outside and get fresh air. A great way to get in some exercise while at home is going for a walk around the neighborhood while practicing social distancing, bike riding or riding scooters.
Get Creative
But what happens if its not ideal weather to go out? Or what to do once outside to promote being active? This calls for getting a little creative with ways to get kids moving at home.
Remember to take a break from homeschooling for exercise to break up the day and get your kids focused when its time to return to their assignments.
It is important to expose kids to fun activities that promote being active at a young age – so that they WANT to keep doing them.
Most children will respond better to a game or activity than “doing fitness or “working out.”
Kids want to KEEP doing something that is fun.
Here are some creative and fun ways to get your kids outside and moving!
- Scavenger/treasure hunt with a list of things to find
- Create an obstacle course in the back yard and time everyone
- Play old-school games like Capture The Flag, Handball, jump rope, or Hop Scotch
- Have a nerf gun or water gun fight
- Do a water balloon or egg toss challenge
- Blow up balloons and volley them back and forth – don’t let them touch the ground!
- Rent a bounce house
- Play Red Light Green Light or Simon Says
- Bring paint outside, paint rocks, and then hide them for kids to find
- Collect leaves and other nature items and make a “nature box”
- Play target games where they have to knock something down by kicking or throwing a ball at it
- Build a birdhouse
- Do chores like picking up sticks, raking leaves, or washing the car
- Gardening – get the kids involved!
- Go on a family hike, bike ride, or picnic
What are some ways that you get your kids outside and moving? I’d love to hear the creative ways you are doing to get your kids moving while at home!
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. While it costs you nothing to click on when curious about a product, I may earn a small commission from you doing so. This allows me to earn some income to pursue my advanced education in the fitness space as well as being a stay-at-home parent to my babies. While I do promote some products, these are my recommendations that I stand behind and believe in because of its quality, safety, comfort, or because it works.
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Great tips!! My LO is too young but I’ll be needing this soon enough! 🙂