Let ’ s Get Moving :
By Jeanne Coates
How Much Physical Activity Children Need and Great Ways to Get Them Moving
Children need physical activity to grow up strong and healthy . The CDC recommends that preschool-aged children be active throughout the day , mostly through play , and that children ages 6-17 be active for 60 minutes per day . A key to this is to encourage your child to participate in activities that are fun and to offer a variety . Children should be doing a combination of aerobic activity ( like walking , running or anything that makes their heartbeat and breathing faster ), muscle-strengthening ( such as climbing or doing pushups ) and bone-strengthening activities ( such as jumping or running ).
Fun activities to get the family moving include :
1 . A Family Hike Scavenger Hunt – make a list of items you can find in your area . Types of leaves or insects , wildlife , etc . make great targets . Make a note when you find them , but leave nature as you found it .
2 . Try one of the many kid friendly dance along playlists on your music vendor of choice and get a family dance party going . Maybe introduce the kids to your favorite dance tunes from when you were growing up .
3 . If you have a family of more than three , learn to jump rope double dutch .
4 . Set up a sidewalk chalk obstacle course to give your kids agility and creativity in a workout .
5 . Set up a dice game – assign an exercise for every spot on the die or combined dice roll and have them do the exercise with every roll .
6 . Play indoor bowling . All you need are household items like pool noodles , empty water bottles and a bouncy ball .
7 . Go for a bike ride or run around your neighborhood to get your daily dose of vitamin D .
8 . Do your yard work as a family . Make it fun by getting their landscaping ideas and letting them choose what they like to do best .
9 . Teach your child to learn to juggle .
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