Elementary school age children should accumulate at least 30 – 60 minutes of age appropriate and developmentally appropriate physical activity from a variety of activities on all (or most) days of the week. Parents play an important role in supplementing school physical education programs.

Promote development of body control:

• Create a space for your child to do stunts and tumbling activities (animal walks, rolls, balances).

• Jump on a mini-tramp, over jump ropes and/or other objects.

• Play games such as hopscotch, twister, tag, hide and go seek, follow the leader, leap frog, Red Light Green Light, Captain May I etc.

• Dance or move to music. Share dances from each generation in your family.

• Use play equipment such as hopping balls, hula hoops, scooter, tunnels, skateboards, roller and ice skates (don’t forget to use helmets and pads), sit and spin, or pogo stick.

• Create and move through obstacles courses.

   

  Promote the development of object control skills:

   

• Throw and catch objects: Begin with big and soft objects such as balloons, beach balls, foam balls and progress to small objects such as koosh balls, bean bags, softballs, Frisbees. Use Velcro catch mitts; make scoops out of milk jugs.

• Kick objects: Begin with stationary large objects and progress to small moving objects. Kick for distance and/or accuracy. Play kickball.

• Strike objects: Use stationary/suspended/slow moving objects. Play beach ball volleyball, T-ball, badminton, racquetball, tennis, tetherball, croquet, or softball.

• Roll a ball, run and catch it while it is still rolling. Make bowling pins out of empty milk cartons. Bounce balls: four square.

   

  Promote a physically fit lifestyle:

   

• Set up a time and place for your child to.

• Include your child when you work out.

• Bike, rollerblade, skateboard, ice skate, rock climb (don’t forget helmet and pads) run, walk, swim, or ski.

• Have your child take a ten minute exercise break every hour while reading, doing homework, or watching television.

• Participate in winter activities such as sledding, making angels in the snow.

   

  Safety First:

   

  All activities are suggestions that parents can do to promote an active lifestyle with their child. If a parent or child does not feel comfortable or safe with the suggested activity don’t do it. Only do activities that do not put the child or parent in a situation where they might get hurt.

   

  Please wear all protective gear (helmets, elbow pads, knee pads, mouth guard, etc: when possible.

   

  Please: Never have your child play on the street or any area that could be potentially dangerous.