Keeping kiddos active is so important for their physical health and mental health. Physical activity can assist in reducing the chance of weight gain and diabetes, strengthens bones and muscles, and improves coordination necessary for everyday life skills. Staying active at a young age can also build confidence, manage anxiety, and increase self-esteem. When determining the appropriate activity for your child to participate in, it is important to consider his/her current level of fitness and pick an activity that will challenge them but also a task the is not too challenging where the child becomes discouraged and frustrated at the task.
With the ever-changing state of the world we are in today; it can be very challenging to keep your kiddos active while indoors. Also, with summer in full swing here in Arizona, it may be too hot to play outside most days. Despite some obstacles this summer is throwing at our children, there are many ways to get creative and have fun inside! Below are a few activities with ways to increase and decrease the difficulty level to adjust, as necessary, for your kiddo!
Homemade Hopscotch
-
- Required Items: Floor markers to jump on (ex: paper plates, paper, stickers, tape)
- Decrease difficulty: Line up each marker with a 2-foot take-off and landing throughout the hopscotch line.
- Increase difficulty: Include more single foot jumping in the hopscotch line.
Paper Plate Ice Skating
-
- Required Items: Paper plates
- Decrease difficulty: Complete game on carpet.
- Increase difficulty: Complete game on tile or wood flooring.
Ball Toss in Laundry Basket
-
- Required Items: Bean bags or small balls, laundry basket or trash can
- Decrease difficulty: Move the basket closer to kiddo, use a larger target
- Increase difficulty: Move the basket further from the kiddo, use a smaller target.
Lauren Yoshida, PT, DPT, ATC