Great Music for Moving

LET'S DANCE!

 

Download these tracks (all available on Amazon.com) for a fun dance party!

Hive Five! 
They Might Be Giants
 

Sugar Talkin'
Uncle Rock

Jump Up (It's a Good Day)
Brady Rymer

Feet
Peter Himmelman

Rock Out!
Uncle Rock

Other dance party ideas:

• Fill the floor with small inflated balloons to kick and swat while dancing.
• Turn down the lights and dance with flashlights and glow neclaces.
• Simon Says dance party style- take turns leading the dance moves!
• Animals can dance too- how would a grizzly bear dance?  A giraffe?  What about a snake?
• Pull out some left-over streamers from your last birthday party and cut into 2-foot lengths for ribbon dancing.
• Dance Obstacle Course- create a sequence of dances to be done as children move throughout your home.
• Example:  shake your booty at the couch, hop to the doorway, do the wave, moonwalk to the kitchen table, do the monkey!
• Remember our dance party?  Have the kids reflect on their dancing at the end of the day.  Invite them to draw pictures of your dance party to show to their parents!

Beat the Not-Quite-Summer-Yet Blues

As much as cool, cloudy, and rainy weather makes us want to cuddle on the couch, we can save that for bed time.  Here are some ideas for staying active when the spring sky thickens:

Shadow Dance
Put on some music and take turns leading a silly dance.  When it's your turn to lead, challenge the kids by taking it high impact or busting out some complicated moves.

Obstacle Course
Work with the kids to set up an obstacle course.  Use couch cushions, dining room chairs, blankets, boxes, and maybe toss in some pool noodles, hoola-hoops, buckets, storage totes, or bubble wrap.  Talk about how your body moves in order to climb over, duck under, fit through, etc.  For a fun math activity afterwards, draw a map of your obstacle course.



Indoor Volley-Balloon-Ball
Using yarn, rope, or tape strung between the back of two chairs as a "net," blow up a balloon and have a slow-motion game of volleyball.

More Balloon Fun
See how long you can keep a balloon from touching the ground, and then add a second and third balloon to the fun.

Play 'hot potato' with a balloon.  The winner gets to pop the balloon!



Parachute Play
Gather in a large space such as the garage, rec room, or basement and get out an old sheet.  Hold the edges of the sheet like a play parachute and lift it high in the air, low to the ground, and up high again, letting one member of the family run under before it comes down again.  Toss a bunch of balled socks into the center and make a popcorn mess!

Go Outside Anyway
Throw on an extra layer, some boots, and a rain coat and head out to get a little soggy.  There's nothing like cold noses and damp hair to make some cuddle time under blankets for a family movie night feel extra cozy.

What indoor physical activity games do your family play?

Let's Move! Take the Pledge

Let's Move! is the First Lady's national campaign to increase kids' physical activity.  I will be sharing many Let's Move! tips on this blog.  Get Up and Get Going by taking the Let's Move! Pledge today!

 

Visit http://www.letsmove.gov/our-pledge to sign up and take the pledge!



Get Moving in MAY ~ Daily Activity Calendar

Print this calendar and post it somewhere front and center.  Schedule in a time for completing the task each day!

 

Get it in PDF here: http://www.aahperd.org/headstartbodystart/activityresources/activityCalendar/upload/May-2013.pdf

The WHY, WHAT and HOW of Getting Up and Going

Our lifestyle finds us sitting more and more.  We are busy and stressed and spend a lot of time in front of the screen (TV, computer, tablet, video game, etc.).  Our children's generation is faced with increasing levels of obesity and related health issues.  Adding more physical activity to our daily lives is crucial as we learn about the childhood obesity epidemic.

 

 

Take a look at this graphic- the rates of overweight children in Mason, Lake, and Oceana Counties are among some of the highest in the state (this data reflects rates of high body mass index for children ages 2 to 5 in low income families, so it is a pretty good snapshot of the population).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LET'S MAKE A CHANGE - LET'S GET UP AND GET GOING!

 

 

Physical activity does not have to mean going to the gym, running a marathon, playing on a soccer team or joining an aerobics class.  Anything that moves your body counts, and physical activity is a great opportunity for meaningful interactions with children.

• Infants crawl, reach, kick, roll, scoot, and bounce while they play.
• Toddlers walk, run, climb, ride, toss, tumble, and push.
• Preschoolers jump, skip, balance, climb, pedal, throw, swim, and swing.
• Older children are skilled at dancing, using coordination, running distances, and being on teams
• Families, kids, and caregivers sweep floors, carry out the garbage, put away laundry, wash the car, walk the dog, rake the lawn, shovel snow, etc.
• Families, kids, and caregivers ride bikes together, go to the playground, take neighborhood walks, hike, swim in the lake, go fishing, go sledding, play tag, garden together, etc.

Our community has many resources and opportunities for being more physically active with the children in our lives.  This blog will highlight simple, fun ways to increase our physical activity right here at home.  Follow along, join in, and celebrate with us.

　

Take a look at the entire 2012 Michigan State Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Profile here:  http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/stateprograms/fundedstates/pdf/Michigan-State-Profile.pdf