“Keep them moving” when you can’t get outside.
STICKY NOTE WALL TOSS
WHAT YOU NEED:
26 sticky with a different letter on each one
Rolled up socks, stuffed animals or beanbags
Something to make a start line
HOW TO SET IT UP:
Place sticky notes in random order on a wall or door
Make a “start” line a few feet away from the door (more if your kids are older)
HOW TO PLAY:
Child stands behind the start line with throwing object in hand
Have then throw their object to try and hit the letters you identify
For an additional spelling challenge, write words onto recipe cards or paper, mix them up, have kiddos pick a random card, try to say the word and spell it by hitting the letters
OLDER KIDS
Take turns throwing objects, collect the letters you hit, after all letters have been collected, spell words... 1 point for each word and longest word gets points for all letters used
Alternatively, give each letter a point value and give kids 10 throws. For each target they hit, mark down the point value, winner has the most points at the end of the 10 throws (or if playing solo, have them try and beat their previous score). For more of a challenge, have them throw their objects from a plank position
(editor’s note: make sure your kids are retrieving their throwing object themselves…running and bending down to pick it up repeatedly is all part of the exercise!)
STINKY FEET
WHAT YOU NEED:
Socks
A bucket or container for option #2
OPTION #1…During their movement break have your kiddo take off 1 sock and scrunch it between their toes, their challenge is to make it all the way around the room holding on to the sock with just their toes. As this gets easier for them, challenge them to do it on just 1 foot. Don’t forget to use both feet J
OPTION #2…
HOW TO SET IT UP
Have several single socks at a start line
Place a bucket or some other container 3m in front of the start
HOW TO PLAY:
Have child pick up the sock with their toes and move it all the way to the bucket without touching in with their hands
Continue until all socks are in the bucket
Repeat and see if you can do it faster next time
If you have more than 1 child they can have sock races
COACH’S NOTE: as they get better at the game, challenge them to not let the foot that is holding the sock touch the floor, this is a way for them to also get creative with movement if balance is a challenge
INDOOR BOWLING
WHAT YOU NEED:
Make your own pins using 5 or 9 recycled plastic bottles (You can print out pictures to decorate them by rolling them up and slipping them inside or use paint or markers to decorate the outside).
A small rubber ball to knock over your pins—or try a hard-boiled egg
HOW TO SET IT UP:
Play 5 pin by placing water bottles in a triangle with 1 at the front, 2 in the middle and 3 at the back (9 pin has an extra row with 4 at the back)
Clear a lane in front of the pins and start about 5m away and mark a starting line
HOW TO PLAY:
Roll the ball from the starting line toward the pins, each player gets 2 rolls to see how may they can knock down
Reset the pins for the next person
Keep track of how many pins knocked down, the winner of the game has the most pins knocked down in an agreed amount of turns
YOUNGER KIDDOS
move closer to the pins or use a bigger ball to make it easier
OLDER KIDS
To make it more difficult, spin in a circle 3x before rolling the ball toward the target
THROW GOLF
WHAT YOU NEED:
OUTSIDE
1 frisbee or ball or bean bag
Several boxes trash cans or buckets large enough to hold your throwing item
INSIDE
1 pair of rolled up socks
1 box or trash can to play
HOW TO SET IT UP:
The goal is to throw your item into the container. Choose a spot for the container and then choose a starting point. Estimate how many throws it will take to get the socks into the box, this is your par for the ”hole”
INSIDE
- move the box from place to place around your house
OUTSIDE
- set up a course in your yard with several holes, the end of the first hole becomes the start point for the second hole
HOW TO PLAY:
From the start line throw towards the ”hole”. Run to the object and throw again. Continue until you have thrown the object into the box.
Reset the box and start line and play a second hole. Continue until you have completed 9 or 18 holes.
YOUNGER KIDDOS
Play a short course. Keep the box and start line closer together.
OLDER KIDS
Lengthen the course. Add exercises into play, such as run to the socks do 5 burpees before throwing again.
MODIFICATION
KICK GOLF (OUTSIDE ONLY)
find bins large enough to fit a soccer ball and kick the ball into the bins, all other rules are the same
***this can be an all-day activity where kids can design and build the course prior to playing
PICK IT UP
WHAT YOU NEED:
A bouncy ball and some items that can easily be picked up (I like using pylons)
HOW TO SET IT UP:
This game can be played on any flat surface, indoors or out.
HOW TO PLAY:
The player scatters the pickup items on the playing surface. Toss the ball is the air (it can bounce once) and try catch it before the second bounce. The player also tries to scoop up items and catch the ball before the ball's second bounce. The number of items to be picked up goes in order. First you pick up one ("onesies"), then two ("twosies"), then three and so on.
COACH'S NOTES:
Younger kiddos: use a lighter ball that takes longer to reach the ground such as a beach ball or even a balloon, you can also vary the number of bounces needed to pick up the item... catching may be a challenge for our youngest athletes so challenge them to throw the ball up and pick up the number of items specified before the ball bounces twice
Older athletes: challenge them to pick up the items and catch the ball with 1 hand, work with opposite hand as well
