It’s essential that all children get 60 minutes of physical activity every day. But you can’t rely on just Physical Education class for them to get this hour of activity in. PE class involves role-taking, changing clothes, etc. By the time all of this is accomplished, there isn’t a lot of time left for physical activity!

This is why it is imperative that children have other times to move during their day. You don’t need a lot of space for daily exercise and movement activities. You could use the backyard, a bedroom, a park, or a playground. Join in with your kids – they will love it!

Here are a few movement activities to incorporate into an hour-daily exercise program:

Baby Dinosaur Hatch

Your child can pretend that they are a baby dinosaur inside an egg. Ask them to reach around and feel the “shell” around them, and they can do different actions inside the egg. You can ask them to move one body part, or two at a time, or lie down in the egg. Then, they can curl up in a ball. Next, they can pretend that the egg is hatching and they are the baby dinosaur pushing out through the shell.

Running Game

If your kids have the space to run, they can play a running game with you. Ask them to run while doing different things. For instance, they can run with their hands in the air, and then run with high knees. You can also incorporate a game of freeze while running.

Beanbag Balance

Many children love balancing exercises. Just place a small beanbag on your child’s head and ask them to walk from one room to the next while balancing the beanbag. They can also try balancing a beanbag on their shoulder or elbow.