How to exercise in a fun way with children?
We let you know some games and children's games that you can do with the kids while doing a little exercise.
In children we play games that are authentic training, even without knowing it. In these games we often work all muscle groups without realizing it. For example, when rollerblading, we essentially work on the legs, however, it is also necessary to have a good abdominal workout to acquire some stability on top of the skates. It is a physically demanding activity, but it also helps to develop the ability to concentrate and balance.
Another example of physical activity is jumping on the rope. It is a game that has several health benefits, namely, leg work, cardiovascular work which, in turn, will help to improve physical endurance and weight loss.
Below we present some activities that we can do with the children in order to play with them, but also, to do a little physical exercise.
Catch game
It is a timeless game: who has never played catch as a kid? We all run after someone and run, too; and we feel the small spike in speed that we have to create when we needed to grab or when the catcher came towards us. Playing catch is a good workout as we work on speed and endurance. It can be adapted in several modalities, for functional training, for example in football, handball and basketball or simply if there is an objective of working on the speed peaks or knowing how to escape.
Rope Pull Kit
It can be played between two people or two teams and only needs a rope. Each one grabs one of the ends, which has the middle marked, with a handkerchief for example, and which is aligned with the center of the "field" where they will play. The objective is to pull the opponent until he is in the other field. In this game we are able to work on strength, endurance and even all body structures.
Rollerblading
As kids, we only think about the pirouettes we can do and the speed we reach. But the truth is that rollerblading is one of the most demanding games for the body. Skates are unstable platforms and require a great deal of stability, done by activating the abdominal and lumbar area. What is perfect for working the belly. When traveling, the glutes and quadriceps are other parts that are highly requested. Roller skating also helps in losing fat mass as it is an exercise with a cardiovascular component.
Skipping Rope
It has several variants: jumping foot to foot; to the lame foot; with your feet together; increase speed; crossing the rope in the jump or jumping in pairs, in which two people give the rope and two others jump. It is a joke when we are kids and that later becomes part of the training. By jumping on the rope we are working on coordination, resistance and strength. In addition to this it is an exercise that contributes to weight loss and whose degree of difficulty can vary.
Monkey Game
This traditional game can be played with just two people and is ideal for the outdoors, for example, garden or playground. The goal is to train balance and resistance. It is a game that also works with precision (if we manage to hit the "little stone" in the square we want).
Hula Hoop
A bow in which kids love to rotate around the waist or hip area, without it falling, engaging in small battles with friends to see who can get the most time is also a great exercise. When we rotate the hula hoop we are working on the central area of the body (trunk AND abdominal area), to create stability and to endure as long as possible the swirling of the arch. Concentration is also necessary in this movement and, thus, worked. Like flexibility. It is also a good exercise for the abdominals and cardiovascular level.
Obstacle Circuits
Obstacle circuits are a very fun way to get children moving and serve to encourage coordination of their movements. You can use home furniture (chairs, benches or tables), cushions and blankets to create areas where they will need to crawl, jump, run, crawl, balance, over or under things.