Ditch The Screen and Hit The Green! Check Out These 6 Classic Kids Games To Increase Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is essential for children’s health and well-being. Exercise helps children develop strong muscles and bones, improves cardiovascular health, and helps maintain a healthy weight. In addition to the physical benefits, exercise can also have positive effects on children’s mental health, as it can improve mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and boost self-esteem. Play these 6 classic games for kids to Increase Physical Activity.

On the other hand, excessive screen time has been linked to a range of negative health outcomes. Children who spend too much time in front of screens are at increased risk of obesity, poor posture, and chronic diseases. Excessive screen time has also been linked to poor sleep quality, decreased social skills, and impaired academic performance.

By encouraging children to exercise more and limit their screen time, parents and caregivers can help set them up for a healthier, more active future. Physical activity can be incorporated into everyday routines, such as walking or biking to school, playing outside, or participating in team sports. It is also important to set limits on screen time and encourage children to engage in other activities, such as reading, playing board games, or participating in creative pursuits. By prioritizing physical activity and limiting screen time, parents and caregivers can help children establish healthy habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Check Out Our List of 6 Classic Kids Games To Increase Physical Activity

1. Freeze Dance – This classic game is perfect for getting kids moving. Simply play some upbeat music and have the kids dance around. When the music stops, they have to freeze in place. Keep repeating this process and watch as the kids get more and more active!
2. Obstacle Course – Set up an obstacle course in your backyard or local park. Include things like cones to weave through, a balance beam to walk across, and a small hurdle to jump over. Time each child as they complete the course to make it a fun competition.
3. Red Light, Green Light – Choose one child to be the “stoplight” and have the other kids line up a few yards away. When the stoplight says “green light,” the kids run towards them. When the stoplight says “red light,” the kids have to freeze in place. Any child caught moving during “red light” has to go back to the starting line.
4. Simon Says – This classic game is great for encouraging physical activity. Choose one child to be “Simon” and have them give commands like “Simon says touch your toes” or “Simon says jump up and down.” The other kids have to follow the commands, but only if Simon says “Simon says” first. Any child who follows a command without hearing “Simon says” is out.
5. Duck, Duck, Goose – Have the kids sit in a circle and choose one child to be the “goose.” The goose walks around the circle, tapping each child on the head and saying “duck.” When they choose a child to be the “goose,” that child has to run around the circle and try to tag the original goose before they make it back to the empty spot in the circle.
6. Tag – This classic game is always a hit with kids. Choose one child to be “it” and have them chase the other kids. When “it” tags another child, that child becomes “it” and the game continues. To make it more challenging, try playing variations like freeze tag (where tagged kids have to freeze in place) or tunnel tag (where kids hold hands to make a tunnel, and “it” has to crawl through it to tag someone).

Watch this video for a great idea to set up a kids obstacle course for a budget in your backyard