Staying active with a smile

Easy activities to keep children active and moving

Activities to help with balance:

· Draw a hopscotch pattern on the floor with chalk and do hopscotch in the blocks.

· Hop on one leg from one room to the other. (Remember to practice both legs.)

· Balance on one leg on a pillow.

· Walk heel-to-toe on a rope or line.

· Do different yoga poses.

Activities to improve core strength:

· Walk like a crab and kick a ball to a friend while crab-walking.

· Lie on back and make cycling movements with legs as if riding a bicycle.

· Do the superman pose on the floor.

· Plank for 30 seconds and throw balls to a friend while planking.

· Sit on the floor and move toys only with your feet

Activities to help with concentration:

Jump on a trampoline

· Cross lateral march: Touch your left elbow to your right knee and your right elbow to your left knee.

· Walk like a worm: Stand on feet and move hands forward on the floor until your body is straight, then move feet towards hands

· Play ‘Simon Says’ (Include instructions with directions, e.g. Simon says move left/right/jump up/jump down)

· Do weight-bearing activities: Bear walk or push-ups.

Activities to learn numbers and letters:

· Say the alphabet or spell different words while doing star jumps.

· Draw letters, numbers and words in the sand or with chalk on the floor. Jump on letters drawn on the floor to spell a word.

· Do math problems by throwing balls or toys into a basket.

· Form letters with your body and draw them in the air.

Activities to improve fitness and coordination:

· Do star jumps for 30 seconds.

· Jump rope for 30 seconds.

· Put on some music and have a dance party.

· Try to keep a balloon in the air for five minutes.

· Frog jump through the whole house.

Activities to do together as a family:

· Make an activity dice: Make a dice with cardboard paper and assign an activity to each side. Every person gets a chance to throw the dice to choose the activity everyone will do.

· Go for a walk outside.

· Go outside and play soccer or catch.

· Make an obstacle course outside and make it a race.

· Play bowling with any ball and a few empty plastic bottles.