Exercise should be enjoyable for children. Consider it “exercise play” rather than “working out.” That’s the phrase used by EwunikeAkpan, an American Council on Exercise-certified personal trainer and the associate manager for the mid-Atlantic area of BOKS (Build Our Kids’ Success). BOKS is a fun and games-based school-based exercise program for elementary and middle school students. Children arrive at school 45 minutes early and spend that time engaging in joyful, active play. It’s an excellent way for them to include fitness, i.e., fun kids exercise, into their everyday routine. It also helps them do better in school, both intellectually and behaviorally.
1. Running
Running is the most basic kind of kids exercise, and it’s ideal for youngsters’ apparently limitless energy and demand for speed. Children can run outside or indoors, such as in a gym, through a corridor, or even around (and around, and around) a huge table. Running may also be mixed with other movements to create active games such as relay races. While running, try something new: Change up the movement patterns by having youngsters alternate between running and skipping, or try running in place with their feet extremely close to the ground (this is called “fast feet”).
2. Jumping
These basic kids exercise can assist you in getting your feet up and off the ground. Jumping strengthens muscles, improves cardiovascular fitness, and increases endurance. And who doesn’t like seeing who can jump the highest versus a friend, sibling, or even an adult?
The following are some fun exercises for kids or fun leaps for youngsters to try:
- Crisscrossed toes:
- Hops over hurdles
- Jack of all trades
- Hops on one foot
- Jumping tucks
3. Games for Physical Activity
To make exercise more fun exercises for kids & for youngsters, into a game. Here are some suggestions from Akpan.
Divide the children so that they each have their own home corner. Then have them run around the room in a circle. They must return to “home” on your command and do a few simple tasks (say five jumping jacks or one 30-second plank).
- Relay squat: Arrange the children on opposite ends of the room, facing each other. On “go,” the entire children sprint to the centre of the room and meet in the middle. They must do three squats, high-fiving each other with both hands in between repetitions. They then return to the beginning point and repeat the process.
4. Ball Games for Indoors
Ball sports, whether indoors or outdoors, may provide excellent exercise for children. Aerobic exercise, balance training, and coordination exercises are just for benefits. (Plus, youngsters are drawn to any activity that involves a ball.) Some examples of indoor ball games that don’t take up a lot of room are:
- Balls are being tossed into washing baskets.
- Using a common household object to launch balls towards a target
- Using a plastic mixing bowl to catch balls
- Kicking, tossing, or rolling a ball up against a wall
- Dribbling, passing, and rolling a ball back and forth between partners are among more concepts.
5. Stretching and Yoga
Yoga positions may be an easy and enjoyable method for kids 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.
