It’s almost time for back to school! This year, back to school looks a little bit different for a lot of kids. Many are starting the year off virtual. Having school at home means losing one of the best parts of the school day: gym class! Here are some tips for parents on how to create fun, at-home gym classes with your kids to help break up their virtual learning day.
Wellness Walks
Take a walk around the neighborhood or on trails near your house. This is a great activity for the whole family! Keep the kids entertained by playing “I spy” or the “ABC” game as you walk. Encourage your kids to point out different plants and animals they see along the way.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt
Give your kids a list of items to find around the neighborhood and then head out together! First member of the family to find all the items is the winner! Here are some scavenger hunt ideas to get you started:
- Flowers
- Someone walking a dog
- A school
- A mail truck
- A blue car
- Kid riding their bike
- Someone mowing the lawn
- A person going on a run
Dance Party
This is a great home gym class idea for a rainy day. Turn on your kids favorite tunes and have a dance party! You could even have a dance off. Last one dancing is the winner!
Playing Card Challenge
For this activity, all you need is a deck of cards. Assign the face cards with the following exercises:
- Jack – Push Ups
- Queen – Crunches
- King – Jumping jacks
- Ace – Mountain climbers
Place all the face cards in one pile and all the numbered cards in another. Your kids will pick a card from each pile and do the exercise and that many reps. For example, if they pick a queen and a 5, then they will do 5 crunches.
A Mile a Day Challenge
Challenge your kids to take on a mile a day in September. Take your kids on a walk, run, or bike ride. Anyway to get that mile in!
At-Home Yoga
Yoga is a great way to get your kids moving while also giving them a chance to release some of their virtual learning stress. There are a lot of great yoga videos for kids on YouTube. Or make it even more fun and have your kids make up their own yoga moves.
We know your kids will miss having PE class at school but that doesn’t mean they can’t have just as much fun at home. Try the above activities with your kids for at-home gym class. It is a great way to give both kids and parents a break while encouraging kids to be active. Don’t forget to stop by your local Potomac River Running store to get your kids new shoes for the start of their school year! All kids 18 and under receive 15% off.
