It's summertime... that's high energy kid season people!
What that means is get those kids outside and playing! Go ahead, let them make it fun.
So how do I do it sometimes? Well, we do not have pool passes this year so the hose is going to have to do, but why not spruce up the boring old stuff with some fun things! Let the kids be creative too... buckets, pails, tupperware, floats, umbrellas, balls, squirt bottles... go nuts!
Showing posts with label energy releasing activities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy releasing activities. Show all posts
Monday, July 4, 2011
Energy Releasing Activity: Nature Walk
Many of the energetic kids I have met seem to have a special thing for nature. We happen to live near a really nice canal that runs along the river so taking the kids for a walk there is pretty convenient, especially since they are now old enough to stay on the path. I'd say for a kid under 3 you might have a little trouble with this unless it is a nice large path enclosed in a park. This path we took today happens to be in between a canal and a river.
Since the kids are now almost 5 and 8, they were just fine on not toppling over into either body of water, thank gawd! Anywho, we gave them brown paper bags and asked them to pick up little things along the way. They collected leaves, pieces of bark, wildflowers and rocks. They thought it was the best treasure hunt ever. Plus, the adults got to stroll along and actually have a conversation. Talk about win-win.
On the way back for about a half a mile, I jogged with the kids to the parking lot. Yes, it was a nice long run for them, but completely worth it. All in all, we spent approximately an hour and half today on that path... the kids got so much fresh air and exercise and the rest of the day was smooth sailing! I should do this everyday!
Since the kids are now almost 5 and 8, they were just fine on not toppling over into either body of water, thank gawd! Anywho, we gave them brown paper bags and asked them to pick up little things along the way. They collected leaves, pieces of bark, wildflowers and rocks. They thought it was the best treasure hunt ever. Plus, the adults got to stroll along and actually have a conversation. Talk about win-win.
On the way back for about a half a mile, I jogged with the kids to the parking lot. Yes, it was a nice long run for them, but completely worth it. All in all, we spent approximately an hour and half today on that path... the kids got so much fresh air and exercise and the rest of the day was smooth sailing! I should do this everyday!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Energy Releasing Activity: Music
The need to move and make noise is inbred in highly active kids. My son was born to live at a rock concert. He loves to scream, shriek, and get pumped up. He is literally a natural-born star.
My daughter thinks she is Miley Cyrus and takes the microphone like it is her own. Get them both in front of set of drums and watch out! They each also have matching play guitars and have had jam sessions well over an hour long. Music is to these kids what books are to a librarian...so grab as many musical instruments as you can, a set of earplugs for yourself and let them at it!
My daughter thinks she is Miley Cyrus and takes the microphone like it is her own. Get them both in front of set of drums and watch out! They each also have matching play guitars and have had jam sessions well over an hour long. Music is to these kids what books are to a librarian...so grab as many musical instruments as you can, a set of earplugs for yourself and let them at it!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Energy Releasing Activities Ideas: In the Snow
When you have very active children and it snows...let 'em play!
It's a winter wonderland for kids, especially those with the drive to climb, jump, slide, and build. I took my guys out for 30 minutes at a time...then we came in and warmed up with hot cocoa and some popcorn. A few hours later, we were out again.
Here are some ideas for the kids:
The old favorites, of course...
- Make snow angels
- Build a snowman
- Go sledding
- Build forts and throw snowballs
- Build a large mound and then make tunnels through it
- Bring out containers, sand toys; dig and fill things with snow
- Make tracks...if the snow is deep, just have them even walk and build pathways, like a maze
- Tie a rope on your sled and let them pull their friends around
- Bring out barbies or other figurines and let them play
- Get a stick and write in the snow
- Hide things in the snow, like colored balls or small figurines
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Chore Activities for Kids
Get them helping around the house! That will wear off a little excess energy. Don't forget to offer some rewards, like a small toy or new book for helping out. Here are a few fun chores that I call...
o Move it Over- This one is simple enough, moving clothes from the washer to the dryer. If there is only one child they can take the clean clothes out and transfer to a basket first, dropping the clothes in there before then pushing them in the dryer. For some reason, my kids love doing this...no idea why!
o Shake and lay- Have the child take a basket of clean clothes (they can even remove the clothes first right out of the dryer) and then ask them to shake each article of clothing out lay it flat on something, such as a table. This preps them for you to come on by and just fold them. The task teaches them to learn the first step in folding, but more importantly to keep their hands busy doing something that will save you time! They can sort the socks in a separate pile. Add to that: Pairing the socks…this is great for little kids, and they learn to practice their sorting!
o Sock wipe- Have the child take an old sock, dampen with water, then go around on the woodwork on the floors and doors and wipe the dust off. It takes some time for them to do this and guess what, you’d be amazed at how good it looks too.
o Stuff the bag- Have too many plastic grocery bags stuffed into all different bags? Well this is a nice consolidation exercise. Ask the child to stuff as many bags as he/she can into a paper towel or old wrapping paper tube. Just place another bag with a rubber band or a big piece of tape over one end to keep it closed.
o Bookworm Sort - How about getting those books in order. Bookshelves in their rooms can be come quite the mess. Ask the child to remove all the books and sort them in order from largest to smallest and place them back on the shelf.
o Vacuum Crazy - Do you have a hand held vacuum? Well, let them at it. Ask them to remove the cushions off the sofa and vacuum up those raisins, Kix cereal and fuzz balls that are in there.
o Move it Over- This one is simple enough, moving clothes from the washer to the dryer. If there is only one child they can take the clean clothes out and transfer to a basket first, dropping the clothes in there before then pushing them in the dryer. For some reason, my kids love doing this...no idea why!
o Shake and lay- Have the child take a basket of clean clothes (they can even remove the clothes first right out of the dryer) and then ask them to shake each article of clothing out lay it flat on something, such as a table. This preps them for you to come on by and just fold them. The task teaches them to learn the first step in folding, but more importantly to keep their hands busy doing something that will save you time! They can sort the socks in a separate pile. Add to that: Pairing the socks…this is great for little kids, and they learn to practice their sorting!
o Sock wipe- Have the child take an old sock, dampen with water, then go around on the woodwork on the floors and doors and wipe the dust off. It takes some time for them to do this and guess what, you’d be amazed at how good it looks too.
o Bookworm Sort - How about getting those books in order. Bookshelves in their rooms can be come quite the mess. Ask the child to remove all the books and sort them in order from largest to smallest and place them back on the shelf.
o Vacuum Crazy - Do you have a hand held vacuum? Well, let them at it. Ask them to remove the cushions off the sofa and vacuum up those raisins, Kix cereal and fuzz balls that are in there.
Energy Releasing Activity Ideas - Age 3+
o Make an obstacle course. You can use just about anything in your house or outside to do this. Just make sure you have enough space and it is safe. Jumping ropes, hoola hoops, orange cones, (or substitute with colored plastic cups). The obstacle course should have them doing a variety of movements, jumping, crawling, running, bouncing something. Add some motivation and get a timer, have them compete to beat their own time.
o General exercising; do the big 5: Ask them to do 5 of each—pick easy things like jumping jacks, frog leaps, push ups, sit ups, twirls
o Hoola hooping: These can be used for multiple purposes, not just basic hoola hooping but can be used to set up an obstacle course or used as area for tossing bean bags or other items into
o The stacking cup game – give them some plastic cups and let them see how fast they can make cup pyramids
o Send them on an indoor scavenger hunt. This is best for older kids you have to be able to trust that they will not select items you wouldn’t want them to touch. You can give them a bag and a list of 10 -15 items around the house they have to find. For example, something yellow, something squishy, something round, something that makes a squeaking sound, etc.
Energy Releasing Activity Ideas for All Ages
- Dance with them. Pump up the music and get jiggy with it
- Go to a local playground
- A brisk walk around the block, for little ones, just walking up the block and back is helpful. The fresh air too does wonders
Why it's Important to Express Energy
Realizing that these children must be given more opportunities to express their energy is crucial. Stifling it will only make them express it in annoying or harmful ways, such as fidgeting or developing tics. That's why giving them safer, more positive ways to express energy can not only nurture their development, but teach them to provide a positive outlet.
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