Unfortunately, fitness and exercising for kids is becoming a thing from the past. It’s becoming harder and harder to find kids who are outside playing, exercising and enjoying fitness.
Luckily, I have created this kid friendly article on exercising, and one that includes a list of exercises for kids.
In this day in age, exercise is of the utmost importance for children’s growth and development.
P.E. classes are going away, schools are going to an online system, and kids are having to sit in front of a computer screen all day like mindless zombies.
The thing is, kids are bundles of energy.
If their energy is not expelled in a reasonable amount of time, it will likely be spent running you around in circles.
And in this day and age, it’s easy and convenient to put them in front of the iphone, tv, or ipad so you can have your 60 minutes of sanity.
As horrible as the tv is for a young mind, there are better options to get that energy out of them and reduce the screen time that’s distracting them and turning them into miniature zombies, ready to explode the moment you take the technology away.
Benefits of Exercise for Children’s Physical Development
Exercise is extremely beneficial for a child’s physical development.
The benefits of exercise for a child’s physical development include:
1. Stronger bones and muscles
2. Improved posture
3. Better endurance
4. A healthy heart
5. Better growth and development
6. A healthy weight
7. Improved coordination
8. More speed, agility and flexibility
In order to take advantage of these benefits and improve the fitness for your kids, you need to first create a strategy for your week.
Get your planner and start putting down time to get their exercise in.
But where do you start?
How can I entertain my toddler without TV?
Well here are 10 ways to get your kids active, exercising, and away from the screen time and technology
A List of Fitness and Exercise Ideas for Kids
1. Exercise Together
One of the best things you can do is lead by example.
If they see you exercising, they will want to join in.
You are setting an example for them for the long term.
Push-ups, planks, running in place, and jumping jacks are all exercises your kids can join in on and try for themselves.
A List of 10 fun and easy exercises you can do with your kids include:
- Burpees
- Crab walks
- Bear crawls
- Inchworms
- Planks
- Jumping Jacks
- Push-ups
- Sit-ups
- Superman’s
- Mountain Climbers
2. Put Them in Sports
What’s your child’s favorite sport? Do you even know?
Sports do an abundance of things for the young mind.
The benefits of youth sports include:
- Teamwork
- Humility
- Hand-eye coordination
- Team Strategy
- Communication
- Respect for Others
- Time management
- Challenges them to be the best they can be.
It also gives them endurance, strength, self-esteem, leadership skills, friendships and relationships with other kids their age, and not to mention, exercise.
Tee ball, soccer, flag football, basketball, or wrestling are all great sports to start with.
3. Get Them a Fitness Tracker
As technology driven as kids are these days, you might as well give them something they can relate to.
A kid’s fitness tracker could be just the thing that keeps them accountable, without even knowing it.
These fitness trackers are great for counting steps, calories, and may monitor heart rate, sleep, GPS, and many other things.
One great kids fitness tracker is the Inspiratek Kids Fitness Tracker. This tracker not only does the said things from above, it’s waterproof, has a slick sturdy design, and comes in many different colors.
4. Go on a Hike
A kid’s going to have to go wherever you go, so go on a hike.
Find some hills, trails or a lake and get to moving.
Take a carrier or stroller in case the kids get tired.
I used to live near the Rockies and my parents would take us to the mountains to go hiking every couple weeks.
We would find a new trail and go.
5. Put Them to Work
If your kids are laying around all day, put them to work.
They can sweep, vacuum, wash the toilet, rake leaves, wash the car, mow the lawn, or do the laundry.
It may not seem like much, but every little bit helps burn that energy, and keeps them distracted for at least a few minutes.
6. Go to the Zoo
If you need to change it up, take the kids to the zoo.
You will get hours of walking in, leaving the kids exhausted by the end of the trip.
The animals will entertain and keep the kids motivated and moving.
You could also take them to the museum, aquarium, amusement park, or anywhere they will have to walk a long distance.
7. Create an Obstacle Course
With the prevalence of American Ninja Warrior, parents are starting to create their own physical activity area for their kids, right in their own back yard.
If you are not the creative type, take them to an indoor obstacle park.
They are starting to pop up all over the place.
There are also things like trampoline parks and various indoor play places.
8. Provide them Means of Transportation
Is your child riding around in one of those children’s motorized vehicles?
Well you’re missing out on a great opportunity to let your kids get some much-needed exercise.
Give them a bike, rollerblades, skateboard, or scooter.
Stop letting them get around with a hoverboard.
Teaching them to be lazy at a young age will carry over to when they become adults.
So be a great parent and get them a Strider.
This peddle-less bike is made for kids 18 months to 5 years old.
Made with several different models and colors, this adjustable bike is great for kids who are ready to have some fun exercising.
9. Join others and Go to the Park
Call up your friends with kids and gather the team up for a trip to the park.
Running, climbing, swinging, and sliding will be one of the best things for your child’s development.
The great thing is, you can bring a book and let them do their thing.
You should be taking your kids to the park almost every day of the week, if possible.
10. Put them In Swim Lessons
One of the things I’m most thankful for is that my parents took us to the pool often as a young child.
I know it carried over to my adulthood because I love being in the water.
My uncle, who is close to my age, never got swim lessons and was afraid of the pool, even as an adult.
Getting a child familiar with the water early is crucial, and it get’s them a huge amount of exercise.
Summary: A Kid Friendly Article on Exercising (Exercise List)
We live in a society of convenience and laziness. If you are not showing your kids how to live a healthy life now, it will carry over to their adulthood. Give your child every opportunity to get some exercise, get some sun, and be a kid. Ditch the tv, as hard as it can be sometimes, and pick something that is a little more meaningful and lasting. Use this kid friendly article on exercising and exercise list for kids to improve your child’s physical development, vastly improving the quality of their lives.
Do your kids watch too much TV? Don’t you think it’s time for a change? Let me know in the comments!!
