It has long been medically proven that physical activity every day contributes significantly to how healthy a child is. It reduces child obesity, prediabetes, fatty liver disease, and alleviates ADHD, anxiety, and depression.
Despite parents knowing this, most children fall short of the recommended hours of physical activity. One main factor is that children do not know how to be active. They don’t enjoy it.
The association of pediatricians in the United States of America (AAP) recommends that pediatricians include assessments of physical literacy and counseling as part of general practice. They even recommended writing …
Fun Activities to Keep Your Children Busy at Home
1.Math
Math is fun, especially when played as a game. There are many math games and apps on the internet that your child will learn from and enjoy.
2. Shape Hunt
Everyone loves a fun scavenger hunt! Add a twist by making your children search for certain shapes or items crossing off the ones they have found off a list. Clues can be added and prizes are given for extra motivation! You can implement the learning of shapes and sizes into this game.
3. Measuring Tapes
Children love to use even the items that are considered ordinary as part of a game. With measuring tapes, you can keep them busy with …
Tennis Ball Catch
Equipment:
Tennis balls
Instructions:.
This game is best played outside the house.
Play catch using a tennis ball. Start by throwing the ball up in the air by using simple underhand throws two to four meters apart. As your child’s confidence and skill increase, further the distance by one to two meters more. Later on, when your child is able, you can modify the game to using overhand throws.
Benefits: This game helps develops your child’s fine motor control. It also improves hand-eye coordination and tracking ability. These skills will be perfect for sporting activities as well….
Biking
Equipment:
a bike (for children)
a biking helmet
Instructions:
Teach your child how to ride a bike. The appropriate age is when your child has just begun elementary school. Ensure to start first with training wheels while walking next to your child, offering your physical support as your child begins to pedal confidently.
Remain vigilant, keeping your eyes in your child. Teach your child the essential lessons on safety and ensure that in each training session that your child is wearing a helmet.
Benefits: Teaching your child how to ride a bike is a great bonding experience. It also …
Balloon Batting
Equipment needed:
Large balloon
Cardboard tube
Instructions:
This game is best played outside, away from valuables, breakables, and other obstacles. However, this can also be played indoors as long as you ensure that there is ample space and breakables and other valuables are kept away so that these will not break or get damaged.
To play the game, inflate the balloon first. Then, show your child how to hit the balloon using the cardboard tube. You can also modify the game using 2 cardboard tubes and take turns bouncing the balloon the same as playing badminton.
Benefits: This game …
Balance Poses
Equipment: none needed
Instructions:
This game can be played either inside the house or outside. Parents can place cushions to prevent serious injury in case of falls.
Show your child different poses. You can begin with standing on your tiptoes with your arms stretched overhead.
You can also try other poses like standing only with one leg and the second leg bent and arms stretched sideways like wings, standing on fours with one leg or one arm in the air. Adjust the pose difficulty to suit your child’s age and ability.
Let your child make his or her poses.
Benefits: This helps develops …
Animal Friends
Equipment: none
Benefits: This game help develops balance, coordination, and imagination among children as they try to imitate animals’ movements and habits
Instructions:
This game can be played outdoors or indoors.
Choose an animal and imitate its movements, and get your child to guess which animal you are imitating. Fly around obstacles like a bird, hop and croak like a frog, hop like a kangaroo, or slither and hiss like a snake.
You can play it like charades, or make suggestions of animals to initiate from your child. This can be a fun activity your family can enjoy with….
Six Fun Games Children Can Play Using Socks
Let’s face it: no matter how involved you want to be in your children’s lives, you will not always have the luxury of time to be able to play with them. But, this doesn’t hinder them from doing a physical fun game at the comforts of your home.
Here is a brief list of safe and fun activities your children can play with socks while staying inside, even when you’re too busy to join in the fun.
1. Soccer with socks
It can be played with one child or more and furniture can be arranged to create goalposts.
2. Basketball with socks
Shooting into laundry hampers, cardboard boxes, and household …
Six Apps That Will Get Your Child to Be More Active
One of the hardest challenges parents face is balancing active play with screen time.
Apps have been developed that will help parents combine the two. This will entice reluctant children to be physically active yet have fun at the same time.
1. Biba
It combines playground fun with the imagination of the child. The instructions are easy to follow, and the app sends your child on tasks around the park. Your child will run, jump, slide – pretending to be an archeologist on a scavenger hunt, a driver in a car race, or an explorer.
2. Geocaching
Geocaching sends your child on a hunt for treasure with …