The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends children and youth engage in a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.
Now that we’ve officially bid adieu to cabin fever, it’s time to get outside and break a sweat! The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends children and youth engage in a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity includes activities that make you sweat or breathe hard, such as running, swimming and bicycling. Although some students may not be able to participate in organized sports after school, program directors can help students meet the 60-minute requirement with fun, active games.
In honor of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and the wonderful spring weather, here are 10 outdoor games from Family Education that are sure to help students break a sweat:
- Kickball (all ages): The game is played similar to baseball, except instead of hitting the ball, you kick it.
- Wiffle Ball (younger): This variation of baseball is great for younger children because the bat and ball are made of lightweight plastic.
- Freeze Tag (all ages): Designate one child to be “it,” and she chases the others, trying to tag them. Once a child is tagged, he must freeze in place until another child unfreezes him by tagging him.
- Dodge Ball (older): Divide children into two teams and throw soft balls at each other. When someone is hit, he is out and sits down. If someone catches an offending ball, the thrower is out. The game continues until members of one team are eliminated.
- Street Hockey (older): Played like regular hockey, only it’s on pavement and not ice.
- Hide and Seek (all ages): A classic game for all ages! To be safe, limit the area in which your group can hide.
- Red Rover (older): Teams line up across from one another in a straight line, and hold hands to form a chain. Each team takes turns calling a member of the other team over, using the "Red Rover" chant. The chosen person runs at the "chain" of kids, and tries to break through. It he isn't able to, he then has to join that team.
- Ultimate Frisbee (all ages): Similar to football, children will use a Frisbee to score touchdowns against the opposing team.
- Sardines (all ages): It’s Hide and Seek in reverse! Everyone else looks for whoever is “it.” Once a counter finds him, he hides with him. This continues until only one counter is left.
- Four Square (all ages): This game is a childhood favorite that only requires a bouncy ball and large square to play!
For more fitness games for students, visit JumpBunch.com!