Better concentration, healthier bodies, stronger bones and muscles, improved sleep… the list of benefits that an active childhood brings is not one to underestimate.
Inspiring your kids to get moving will not only help them feel these positives in their day-to-day, but is also a phenomenal way to encourage curiosity, confidence, and a connection between them and their exercise buddies!
Here are a few ideas to try at home.
Animal Athletics
One thing you can always be sure of: Kids. Love. Animals. Mimicking their movements can be a great way to get moving. Why not try lizard runs, kangaroo jumps, elephant stomps, spider crawls, or even downward dog for young yoga practitioners?
There's an almost endless list of simple movements that become instantly more fun when they’re attached to a favourite animal. Just make sure there’s plenty of space to practise in – some of those animals can get a bit wild!
Dancing in Full Colour
Busting a few moves in an impromptu kitchen dance party is a fantastic way to get everyone active and having fun. Turn up the volume on your favourite tunes, or explore genres and styles of music that are completely new to you. Bonus points for adding “disco” lights or glow sticks to make it even more exciting.
And remember, dancing’s not only great for physical exercise but also for creativity and expression. For example, with a stick and length of coloured ribbon you can easily make a gymnastic-style dance ribbon for kids to play with.
Escape from Shark Island
Jaws theme intensifies... If you have a group of four or more, place hula hoops on the floor or grass. These are your islands.
One player is the shark who swims between the islands trying to catch the other players as they ‘swim’ from one island to another. Players can stay on each island for only 10 seconds. The last player swimming wins.
Use the wave sounds on your Yoto (you'll find this in the Sleep Sounds section of Discover in your Yoto App) for extra ambiance and excitement!
Balloon Tennis
Fun, simple and involving minimal setup. Make your own rackets using paper plates and cardboard tubes (or just use hands) then blow up a balloon and use it as the tennis ball.
The objective is to hit the balloon and make your opponent miss it, letting it touch the ground to score a point. Excellent for improving hand-eye coordination and getting rid of any excess energy before bedtime!
Caught in the Spider Web
Using some string, weave a ‘spider’s web’ under a large table or between chairs. The challenge here is for kids to crawl through the web without touching the strings. Think Mission Impossible meets Spiderman.
The cool thing about this one is that it’s as much about physical activity and agility as it is about problem-solving skills.
Over, under, through
Grab some pillows, furniture, and even toys to make an obstacle course that’ll keep them thinking and moving.
Time them to see how fast they can complete it and even use something like a blackboard or poster to show them how they’re improving. Go the extra mile and make tinfoil medals for all participants!
What’s the story?
Get imaginative and create a story that involves physical activities.
Think jungle adventures (the garden or nearby woodland) where you need to climb mountains (stairs), cross rivers (jump over puddles), and crawl through caves (tunnels or playpark equipment).
There’s no right or wrong answers here – just improvise with what you have and weave it all into a great activity to get lost in!
We’d love to hear how you keep your kids active at home – let us know what we’ve missed off this list by commenting below. Happy moving!