Fitness Themed Activities for Kids

Why is fitness important for kids?

There are so many benefits to teaching kids about physical fitness! Everyone benefits from exercising and taking good care of themselves, especially kids!

Fitness also helps give kids the tools to tackle physical, emotional, and mental challenges in life! 

Although participating in team sports can be a motivating way for kids to enjoy exercising, it is important for them to know how to exercise and be physically fit even when they aren't on a sports team. 

This week we are going to introduce some fitness skills to kids and help you have some fitness fun as a family!

Inside this post we share why fitness is important to kids! We also give you four simple fitness themed activities to try and a printable activity plan! 

RELATED: There are so many fun ways to get kids moving! Here are 25+ quick activities to burn off toddler energy!

Benefits of Fitness for Kids!

Kids are better equipped for the challenges that life throws at them when they art physically fit and active!

1. Physical benefits of fitness

Being physically fit helps kids do everyday activities successfully, like opening doors, walking, lifting heavy things, standing, running, sitting, playing, etc. When kids have good muscular strength and strong bones, they don't put extra stress on their bodies throughout the day.

2. Emotional benefits of fitness

Physical activity helps kids have a better outlook on life because it helps them build confidence, develop their cognitive skills, manage anxiety and depression, and increase their self esteem!

3. Cognitive benefits of fitness

Exercise helps stimulate brain growth and boosts kid's abilities to learn! It also helps kids build skills like attention/focus and also teaches kids body management skills. Exercise can also improve kid's concentration!

Types of Fitness Activities to Introduce to Your Kids 

There are three types of fitness activities that you can introduce to your kids! These activities can be done throughout the week. It is important to have balance in the types of activities you do with your kids and make sure they are age/developmentally appropriate.

Young children will do short bursts of fitness activities followed by rest, while older kids will be able to do physical activities for longer. 

The most important part about fitness activities is that they are fun for young kids! Keep them short and simple and work up to longer fitness periods!

1) Aerobic activities 

These activities include running, swimming, bike riding, walking, and more. 

2) Muscle- strengthening activities 

These activities are like, gymnastics, dance, push ups, yoga, and balancing activities.

3) Bone-strengthening activities 

These activities can include hopping, skipping, jumping, running, lifting weights (like soup cans), jumping rope, etc.

Teach Kids About Exercise in Simple Ways!

Learning about fitness doesn't need to be complicated. Introduce fitness to kids in fun ways!

We have 4 simple activities you can use to explore fitness with your kids this week! Each one emphasizes a different type of fitness activity to try!

Download Printable Fitness Skills Activity Plan HERE

This fitness themed activity guide includes...

• Some simple things to talk about/show kids
• A supply list for the activities
• 4 simple fitness themed activities
• Movie & book ideas

** Some of the activities, books, and movie titles are clickable on the plan and will direct you to a YouTube read aloud or Amazon rental link (not affiliate links).

Fitness Themed Activities for Kids

Here's a quick summary of the activities below. You can find all the details and supply list in the activity plans.

1. Stop and Go Adventure

This activity works on body management with kids and practices stopping and starting. It is also a fun aerobic activity! This activity also works on listening and following directions. If you have one, this activity is fun to do with a bike or scooter!

2. Tape Balance Beam

This activity works on stability skills! Stability helps kids manage and control their bodies. It is also important as kids walk and change their posture throughout the day.

3. Climbing Trees/Rocks

This activity works on build muscle- strength in a fun way!

4. Build a Obstacle Course

This activity works on building bone-strength. 

 Download Printable Fitness Skills Activity Plan HERE

Books and Movies about Fitness

As part of this week's plan, we shared some fun books and movie ideas that talk about exercise and working out and trying hard things!

As part of our continued effort to share more diverse literature, we have also included two wonderful books! We encourage you to check them out! The activity plan also includes a link to watch the books read aloud on YouTube.

Join us each week for our Kid Approved Life Skills School this summer.

We are taking simple important skills that kids need to learn and we are making them fun!

The activities are simple and hands-on.

The skills are ones that we think are important for kids to know as they become teens and adults.

We don't have to wait until they are adults. We can start preparing them now!

Did you miss any of the skills we've shared so far? Find them on our Hands-On Life Skills Activities landing page HERE.