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 get the benefits of exercise and have fun at the same time! The lessons in this unit encourage kids to play, participate in a game or sport, and do leisure activities such as going for a walk for their physical activity. They will think about ways they can choose to move many times, many ways, and in many places each day. It all adds up—what's most important is that youth get the recommended hour or more of physical activity throughout the day. For more ideas on fun ways to add movement to your day, read 8 Sneaky Ways to Keep Kids Moving.

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.

To use this with your students click here.

Which Animal Would You Rather Move Like?

As you view the slideshow, ask students to stand up or show thumbs-up for their preference.

Would you rather:

• Be as acrobatic as a chimpanzee or as fast as a cheetah? 
• Be as strong as an ant or as graceful as a gazelle? 
• Swim as fast as a sailfish or fly as high as an eagle?

Make a Plan to Move

Discuss the many choices kids have about when, where, and how they can move. Have them do the fit Moves Word Search as a fun way to get kids thinking about different ways they can add movement to their day.

Check for understanding: When, where, and how will you move today? Tomorrow?

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. Print the fitBoost cards for families to get moving together!

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.