3 Fun Games to Encourage Your Kids to Exercise

Hi, Sherry here, from central California, encouraging your kids to exercise!

You might wonder how much physical activity a school-aged kid might need. Well, according to The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), kids need an hour of exercise per day.

But why?

There are many benefits of exercise, including:

• Keeps their weight in the normal range.
• Lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Helps maintain a healthy blood pressure.
• Builds strong muscles and bones.
• For a better night’s sleep.

What type of physical activities do kids need to do?

Aerobic exercise for endurance, such as biking, running, swimming, soccer, basketball, or any sport that gets your heart pumping!

Weight bearing exercises for strength, such as push-ups, pull-ups, crunches, or any movement that helps tone and strengthen your muscles.

And stretching exercises for flexibility, such as reaching, bending, or flexing the muscles to improve range of motion.

Remember God is the one who made their bodies and He wants them to take care of it!

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

Have your kids try these fun games to get their body moving:

Balloon Bump

What you need:

1 Balloon

What to do:

1. Blow up a balloon and tie a knot so no air escapes.
2. Throw the balloon in the air.
3. Run towards the balloon and bump it with your head.
4. Count how many times you can bump the balloon without it landing on the ground.

Frisbee Throw

What you need:

1 Frisbee

2 Buckets

What to do:

1. Find a grassy area and set the buckets down at least 20 steps apart.
2. Throw the Frisbee towards one bucket, trying to get as close as possible. Keep tossing the Frisbee until it lands in the bucket.
3. Throw the Frisbee in the opposite direction towards the other bucket until you get it in.

Basketball Bounce

What you need:

1 Basketball

What to do:

1. Bounce the basketball ten times with your right hand, then your left.
2. Bounce the basketball under your right leg, then your left.
3. Bounce the basketball against a wall.
4. Bounce the basketball real high, then twirl around and catch it.
5. Repeat, bouncing the basketball nine times, then eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, and one.

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