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. The lessons in this unit encourage kids to play, participate in a game or sport, and do leisure activities (e.g., go 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.

Move as Much as You Can

Wrap up the topic by asking students to identify ways to have fun and move throughout the day.

Students plan their weekend movement activities, using the My Weekend Move Timeline printable.

Encourage students to move many times and many ways throughout their weekend days! Have them name an adult who can assist in completing the Weekend Move timeline if needed.

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.