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Tips for Summer Physical Activity Fun
by Kathy Ermler and Joella Mehrhof
Vacationing and traveling with children can be a family time full of fun and adventure. Often confined to smaller spaces (cars, planes, trains) and to move in very public venues (airports, depots, restaurants, hotels, etc.), travel for adults and children can also become a frustrating and energy-consuming venture. Children can quickly become bored, restless, and agitated due to their need for physical movement to release pent up energy. With just a little preplanning, it is possible to keep your children happy and allow for their need to move. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) recommends that infants, children and youth get a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Airline Travel
Air travel has become increasingly more difficulty. Flight delays, over booked flights, and small, uncomfortable seating all increase a child's fidgetiness and impatience. An airline activity travel kit will assist in helping the child pass the time. When creating such a kit, think of the two areas that typically cause problems: the airport and the plane. The airport, while a larger area, is a shared public place where activities such as jump roping or playing tag are not appropriate. Throwing a ball may seem like a good idea until that ball hits a total stranger holding a hot cup of coffee or rolls into the middle of the airport aisle and someone trips on the ball. On the plane, the child should remain in his/her seat with the seatbelt firmly in place. Allowing your child to run up and down the aisle of the plane will not exactly endear you to the other passengers. This situation makes any type of physical activity difficult. The airline travel kit should contain items that can be used in the airport and on the plane.
Airline Travel Kit
- Playing cards can be used in a very quiet way or they can be used to increase physical activity. For example, the game 'war' can be played the normal way or the children can turn over cards while holding a push-up position in the airport.
- Yo-Yos are small and easy to store. They improve hand-eye coordination and cause little distribution in an airport.
- A plain piece of white paper can be used to make a 'Fortune Teller' paper folding game. Instead of writing numbers in the middle, write physical activities your child can perform (jumping jack, sit-up, hopping, stretching, etc.).
- A four foot length of rope can be a fascinating tool for teaching the child to tie a variety of knots.
- A loop of yarn between 36'-72' can provide the children with the opportunity to create string games such as cat's cradle or Jacob's ladder.
- Coloring books with a few crayons can improve an art outlet while improving fine motor skills.
- If all else fails, walk a few laps around the airport while you and your family are waiting for the plane.
Car Travel
Every parent knows the refrain of, 'are we almost there.' Car travel can be long, boring and claustrophobic for children. While newer cars have built in DVD players, watching movies or playing video games is not the only thing that can help the children and the adults weather the travel. A car travel kit can also provide opportunities for energy release and muscle stimulation. This kit can contain items that can be used both in the car and when rest stops are made along the route.
Car Travel Kit
- While a jump rope cannot be used in the car, it is a life saver at rest stops and helps children participate in some vigorous physical activity for short durations.
- By including paper, pencils, and crayons, the children can play a multitude of car games such as tic, tac, toe; hangman; and connect the dots. In addition, they can draw various things they see on the trip. Never underestimate the value of a piece of clean white paper.
- During those frequent rest stops or at hotels, chalk and a bouncing ball can allow the children the options of a two/four square game or hopscotch.
- Magnetic games are great and save many sibling fights. These games are fairly inexpensive and include such favorites as checkers, chess, and backgammon.
- The quarter game is a low level activity that stimulates movement while still restrained in the seat belt. Call out a single activity (e.g. make a fist, flap arms like wings, point/flex the feet, etc.). The children do the activity 25 times. Call out the next activity to complete 25 times. Challenge the car occupants to create 25 different activities each to be completed 25 times.
- Opposable Thumbs! - All humans have them! Thumb wrestling can be a great activity for a car when the children crave some movement. Be sure to keep the seat belts fastened.
- If your family is taking a long car trip, be sure to choose a motel with a swimming pool. Swimming is a great way for both you and your children to forget about sitting all day in a car With fuel prices so high, you may choose not to travel very far this summer. However, staying at or near home should not reduce the fun of the family experience. With a little planning and creative thinking, you and your family will forget you are just in the backyard or neighborhood park.
Home-Based Vacations
- Children love nothing more than running through a sprinkler on a hot day or sliding down a hill on a slip and slide. Hours will quickly pass with this water invention.
- Picnics in the backyard or at one of the hometown parks can be fun. Give the children the challenge of seeing who can spit the watermelon seeds the farthest. Bring the neighborhood children. Try activities like relay races and water balloon tossing.
- Encourage children to become the family gardener. Even younger children can be given the responsibilities of watering or weeding this area. If you live in an apartment, you can plant vegetables and plants in window boxes or planters.
- Geocaching is a wonderful new activity that the entire family can do all year round! All you need is a mobile GPS unit. The basic idea of geocaching is for people to find hidden caches all over the world or to set up caches for people all over the world to find. More information on geocaching.* (* Will open in a new window.)
- Hiking/walking to local sites encourages family fitness and togetherness. Plan a trip to a local historical site. On the walk home discuss the favorite aspects of the adventure.
- Camping in the backyard allows you to get away from the television, cell phone, and computer while enjoying the family and nature. Set up a tent in the backyard and have the family sleep under the stars. Make some s'mores and roast some hot dogs. When it gets dark everyone can tell their favorite ghost story. Don't forget the flashlights for those scary faces!
- A bike scavenger hunt can provide your children with physical activity while using their skills to locate required objects.Give your children a list of 10 things they need to collect from around your local area. Invite the neighborhood children. Make it a challenge between two-three teams of children.
- Fishing is a great activity for children. Go to a local fishing hole. Bring a picnic lunch, some handy wipes, sun screen, a lawn chair, and some bait and you have the ingredients for a great day!
- Attend a country fair or festival.Go to the local fair grounds for the all the activities and events and enjoy the fireworks display if there is one.
Day Trips and Weekend Vacations
- Plan a weekend where all activities are done outdoor. This could include horseback riding, swimming, hiking, bike riding, fishing, canoeing, whitewater rafting, or camping. Create some family memories through these great physical activities.
- By planning a day trip to a theme park close to your home, you will become a champion. Children love the rides and everyone gets a lot of physical activity walking from attraction to attraction.
- A trip to the zoo offers encourages family togetherness while allowing much physical activity through the walking from area to area.
- Plan a trip to a beach or lake. Your children can build sandcastles, dig some sand ditches and collect shells.
- Local festivals and country fairs offer events which are loaded with things for children to do. Your children can go on rides, have their faces painted, pet animals, and join the games and activity challenges. Summer is a great time to reconnect with your children and other family members. If you are traveling on a plane or a car, make sure to bring things that keep your children active and motivated. If you can't afford to get away for an extended vacation, think of ways to vacation right at home or on short day or weekend trips. It just takes a little planning to have a safe and physically active summer.
About NASPE
The preeminent national authority on physical education and a recognized leader in sport and physical activity, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is a non-profit professional membership association that sets the standard for practice in physical education and sport. NASPE's 16,000 members include: K-12 physical education teachers, coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, sport management professionals, researchers, and college/university faculty who prepare physical activity professionals. For more information, visit theire Web site. (* Will open in a new window.)
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