Tips for Kids to Move Each Day

Too often, physical activity is presented as exercise, exercise, and more exercise. Exercise is great; however, there are many ways to move and get the benefits of exercise and have fun at the same time. What’s most important is that youth get the recommended hour or more of physical activity each day. So, play, participate in a game or sport, or even do a leisure activity, like going for a walk. It all adds up! Make the fit choice to move many times, many ways, and in many places each day.

Have students brainstorm a list of ways they like to move or exercise. Review the list with students, showing them that there are many ways to move and that we all may enjoy different types of movement.

Which Animal Would You Rather Move Like?

Ask students to stand up and show thumbs-up for their preference:

• Be as acrobatic as a chimp or as fast as a cheetah?
• Be as strong as an ant or as graceful as a gazelle? 

Make a Plan to Move

Discuss the many choices kids have about how and when they can move.

Need more ideas? Check out the "12 Sneaky Ways to Exercise" printable.

Move as Much as You Can

Students plan their weekend movement activities using the My Weekend Move Timeline printable. Encourage students to move many times, many ways, and in many places throughout their weekend days!

Today we learned about how you can move anywhere, and we made a plan to move more. Challenge your students to swap their screen time for move time.