Q: What are some outdoor activities I can do with my kids?
A: Take it back to Old School! Some of the simplest kid’s games are really exercise in disguise!
- Hopscotch: Helps to develop balance and coordination
- Leap Frog: Works on lower body strength
- Bear Crawls: Walking on “all fours” develops upper body strength and begins conditioning for push up type movements.
- Tug of War: Upper body pulling exercises
- The Playground: Oh my goodness! It’s a plethora of “toys” — swings, ladders, teeter/totters, rings and ropes. The kids think they are playing, but they are using every major muscle group in their body! Even the merry-go-round helps to develop proprioception (balance).
If you have a group of kids playing together set up teams for Frisbee toss and relay races. Team activities can help foster sportsmanship and ability to work together. Even good old-fashioned “ring-around-the-rosie” can be entertaining and considered exercise!
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Here are some YouTube links I found with some good outdoor activity ideas. Check them out now – summer activity time is right around the corner! Well, it might already be on YOUR street if you live somewhere South of the Winter Wonderland that I do!
- http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=01P782AcerI
- http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=pEArcdPQkxw&feature=related
- http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=Fd9wbf2CkKE&NR=1
- http://www. youtube.com/user/tedvickey#p/u/11/32A8Z-O0pNs
- http://www. youtube.com/user/tedvickey#p/u/10/jsN1jCAAw6w
- http://www. youtube.com/user/tedvickey#p/u/12/O-orS201nK4
Enjoy!
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Debbie Corey, RN
Certified Personal Trainer
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