Common moves performed in tumbling include rolls, somersaults, tucks, handstands, backbends, handsprings, leg splits, cartwheels and round-offs.

Tumbling helps children develop bilateral motor skills, balance and co-ordination, as well as cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility and agility.

In this article, For Kids will illustrate 10 games and moves that pertain to tumbling for kids and toddlers, which can be performed at home if you follow along with a YouTube video of each skill.

Tumbling for toddlers

Table of Contents

• 1. Tumbling basics
• 2. Tumbling Equipment
• 3. Safety tips
• 4. Ten Tumbling games
• 5. References

Tumbling for kids: How to get started

Tumblers should start with the most basic tumbling skills, which are the forward roll, backward roll and cartwheel.

After mastering these basic skills, children can move on to learning one of the most-used skills in the sport: the round-off.

As they progress in tumbling, the number of twists and rolls included in each run will increase, and the sport will become more exciting.

Tumbling equipment

The only equipment needed to perform tumbling is a space area with a gymnastics exercise mat, which can usually be found in a gymnasium.

In competitive tumbling, a sophisticated 25-meter sprung track is used to help the athletes to perform the high-level dynamic skills.

Beginners can also use trampolines and springboards to learn and practice aerial skills before performing them on the floor.

Safety tips

Tumbling is a fun activity, but it can also be dangerous if it’s not taken seriously. Here are some safety tips for you to consider:

1. Learn the basics correctly before moving on to advanced skills.
2. Warm-up properly before starting your tumbling workout, and do some stretches at the end of each session.
3. Performing tumbling moves inside a matted gymnasium with the guidance of qualified coaches is the best way to learn.

Read more about safety tips during activities and exercises for kids.

10 tumbling games for toddlers

1. Forward Rolls/Somersaults

Divide the group into pairs or have the students choose partners.

Steps:

1. Beginning in a crawl position, tuck your head into your chest and push your bottom up and over until you roll over.
2. If necessary, a child can assist their partner by pushing their bottom over and placing their own hand on their partner’s head to help their partner keep their chin tucked under.
3. Repeat this exercise five times.

2. Backward Rolls

Divide the group into pairs or have the students choose partners.

If the children are just learning to do a backward roll, demonstrate the move first before teaching the children to do it.

You may want an adult—or another partner—to assist them at first so they can feel the correct movement.

Steps: 

1. Sit on the edge of a mat with your knees and chin tucked into your chest.
2. Place your hands on either side of your head, just above your ears, with your palms up.
3. If you need help, your partner can place one hand on your head to aid you with keeping it tucked, and one hand on your bottom to help you lift it up and over.
4. Rock backward and forward, remaining in the tucked position.
5. As you gain confidence, rock harder, until you rock far enough back that your palms will touch the mat.
6. When you’re comfortable, change your starting position slightly. Instead of sitting, get into the appropriate tuck position while you’re balanced on your feet.
7. Repeat the rocking movement from the new starting point until you’re ready for a break.

Helpful Advice:

• As a tumbler, be sure to keep your hands in place, as protection for your head and neck.
• Push strongly with your hands when they touch the mat, in order to complete your backward roll.
• If necessary, your partner can ease you over by using your hips as a handhold.
• As you become more confident, you can begin the move with your hands starting on the mat and quickly bring them up by your ears as you begin to rock backward.

Do a total of five backward rolls. With practice, you’ll improve your form and speed!

3. Cartwheels

When doing a cartwheel, the child must move sideways in a straight line.

They must keep their back straight and place the hand of their leading side on the ground, followed by the other hand.

Their legs must pass over their body and then come down as their hands and body come up to a standing position.

A cartwheel can be performed by using one, two or no hands.

This is just a sideways motion, so it really doesn’t matter whether the legs are straight or bent, as long as the body turns over in a sideways motion.

Steps: 

1. Always start a cartwheel with a lunge. The stronger leg leads the lunge, and the weaker leg is in the back.
2. During the lunge, raise your arms straight into the air and keep your hips squared in the forward direction.
3. Push off your front leg and place your hands shoulder-width apart (or wider) on the ground in front of you.
4. Begin to kick your legs up and over your torso and head as the body becomes inverted.
5. During the rotation, keep your legs straight and apart, in a wide straddle. Keep your toes and feet pointed.
6. As your first foot hits the ground, follow it closely with the second foot. Land in a lunge with the weaker leg in front and the lead leg in back.
7. Repeat this exercise 10 times.

4. Round-Offs

A round-off is just like a cartwheel, except that you land with your two feet together on the ground instead of one foot at a time, facing the direction from which you came.

This is achieved by twisting your hands and shoulders as you place your hands on the ground.

The two hands are generally placed down one after the other while you’re kicking your feet up and bringing your legs together, with your feet together.

For practice with round-offs, repeat this entire exercise 10 times.

5. Assisted Handstands

Prop: A wall

Divide the group into pairs or have the students choose partners.

Steps:

1. Ask your partner to grab your ankles in a handstand position, or use a wall to help keep your balance and increase your upper-body strength.
2. Stand about 3 feet away from the wall and lift your hands above your head.
3. While keeping your arms straight having them touch your ears, step forward, throw your hands down and kick upward. The kick will give you more momentum.
4. Kick one leg in front of you and take a large step forward with that leg, as far as it feels comfortable to you. Keep a straight line from your fingertips to your back foot.
5. Start to lean forward while keeping your body straight. Make sure you add a bit of forward force with your lunged leg and back foot. (The most common mistake is to throw your hands straight down to the ground and try to throw your legs upward at the same time. This results in a whip at the top, and causes you to fall forward.)
6. Once your hands are approaching the ground, keep your arms perfectly straight. Your legs will touch the wall for support.
7. Repeat this exercise five times.

Read more about gymnastics:
What are the different types of Gymnastics you know?
How to choose Gymnastics equipment for rhythmic gymnastics?
Benefits of Gymnastics for Toddlers & best age to start

6. Solo Handstands

Steps:

1. Stand up straight and lift your hands above your head.
2. Make sure your arms are straight and they’re touching your ears. Step forward and then throw your hands down on the ground.
3. Kick up; this will give you more momentum. Kick one leg in front of you and take a large step forward with that leg, as far as it feels comfortable to you. Make sure you keep your body in a straight line, from your fingertips to your back foot.
4. Start to lean forward while keeping your body straight. Make sure you add a bit of forward force with your lunged leg and back foot. (As with the assisted handstand, the most common mistake is to throw your hands straight down to the ground and try to throw your legs upward at the same time. This results in a whip at the top and causes you to fall forward. Keep straight!)
5. Once your hands are approaching the ground, keep your arms perfectly straight. Don’t let your elbows bend or your shoulders sag upward. If you bend your arms, you’ll risk hurting yourself. If you do this part right, it’ll help you keep your balance!
6. When you feel most of your weight on your hands, attempt to keep the force of your weight around the base of your fingers. This will allow you to push forward or backward with your hands to compensate when you kick too hard or not hard enough. (You might need to try this a few times before you find balance. Soon, you’ll get it almost every time. Just keep all the weight on your hands.)
7. Straighten out completely.
8. After successfully hitting the handstand, keep your head neutral and your back and legs straight. Look past your eyebrows to see your hands, instead of throwing your head back, which will only result in you arching your back and potentially hurting it.
9. Try holding your handstand for 10 seconds.

7. Stay Within the Lines

Props: A roll of easily removable tape

Steps: 

1. Make two lines on the floor with tape. They should be 12 inches apart and 10 feet long.
2. Tell the children to practice doing Forward Rolls/Somersaults within the lines.
3. Travel through the lines 10 times.

Variation: When that skill is mastered, decrease the distance between the lines an inch at a time, until the lines are only 6 inches apart.

8. Leg Splits

Steps: 

1. Sit on the floor with your legs straight and your toes pointed.
2. Stretch to get your nose as close to your knees as you can. Hold this position for 30 seconds.
3. Flex your feet while still holding your nose as far down as possible.
4. Next, sit in a wide straddle and attempt to place your elbows on the floor. Hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
5. Reach your hands as far out as possible while attempting to put your nose on the floor. Again, hold this stretch for 30 seconds.
6. Place either leg in front and lunge from your knee; your rear knee will be on the floor with your front foot far in front. Hold for 30 seconds and then sit back.
7. Straighten the front leg and try to place your nose on your knees.
8. Slide as far into the split as you are able.
9. Repeat these stretches on the other side. Remember to hold each position for 30 seconds!

Helpful Advice: Never bounce while stretching or push yourself when it’s painful.

9. Backbends

Props: Soft pillows or a mat for each pair 

Divide the group into pairs or have the players choose partners. Do this gymnastics exercise slowly; don’t just fall backward into a backbend. Control yourself and don’t rush.

Steps: 

1. To begin a backbend, start with your legs spread shoulder-width apart. If you’ve never tried to do this before, have a partner hold you by the waist so you can practice getting into a backbend position with support that should help you prevent your core from collapsing.
2. Keep your arms close to your ears without touching them, and carefully place your hands on the floor.
3. Repeat this exercise 3 times.

Note: Working in pairs, one person can serve as a spotter. It’s especially helpful if the partner is an adult.

10. Backbend Kick-Overs

Steps: 

1. Get into a backbend position and simply kick your strong leg up and over. Have your weaker leg just behind that leg. Jumping with the leg that doesn’t kick over will help put you into motion so you can complete this.
2. Make sure you land with your arms up and your feet together.
3. Repeat this tumbling exercise three times.

References:

usagym.org.

image 2: Pixabay; image 3: Pixabay

School-age children can receive great health benefits from running shorter distances—with a lesser risk of injury than if they were to run for longer periods of time.

In this article, For Kids will highlight the top 10 jumping and running fitness exercises for kids of all ages.

The following fitness activities are suitable for kids, teenagers and youth to participate in outdoors. They’re particularly ideal for large groups.

Keep in mind that if kids are doing any type of structured running, they should be fitted for appropriate running shoes first.

Running games for kids

1. Interval Runs

An interval run incorporates both speed and endurance in small amounts.

This fun outdoor exercise has been designed to either increase or decrease in its intensity, with the length of time remaining unchanged.

You can invite your whole family or a group of friends on this type of run, and don’t forget your dog, too!

Steps:

1. To start off, begin walking. When everyone feels ready, increase your speed from slow to medium to fast.
2. Choose someone to call out the desired level of speed. This person will change the speed at regular intervals of their choice (such as 20 or 30 seconds).
3. Count how many slow-medium-fast intervals you complete.
4. Do this for at least three minutes.

2. High-Knees Running

Track and field athletes often use this exercise as a warm-up.

Steps:

1. Run forward at a slow pace, bringing your knees waist-high.
2. Continue for three minutes.

3. Take a Hike

Invite your family or group of friends for a hike in your neighborhood park.

You’ll find that running on a dirt path with hills is a different sort of workout than running on concrete.

Before you start, make sure everyone is prepared with sunscreen and appropriate clothing.

If you come to a hill, take up the challenge and walk or run up the hill, but when you’re descending a hill, remember that walking is much safer than running—especially for kids.

Steps:

1. Start out by walking for a couple of minutes.
2. Pick up the pace if the path is safe and free of roots, rocks and other obstacles.
3. Walk for at least 15 minutes.

4. Go to the Beach

Props: A sandy beach or a source of at least knee-deep water, and sunscreen

Take your family or some friends to the beach, or a backyard or neighborhood pool.

Running on sand or in water feels different from running on any other surface, and it’s more challenging, too.

Kids won’t be able to run for long periods of time on sand, because their major muscles will have to work harder than they usually do during runs. Therefore, the kids will fatigue much faster than when they’re running on hard surfaces.

Jumping games for kids

Jumping is a skill that’s used in almost every sport. It requires timing and a sense of rhythm.

5. Power Jumps

Props: A mini trampoline (optional)

Steps:

1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides.
2. Bend your knees and sit back into a squat.
3. While using your arms to create momentum, use your legs to push back up to a standing position and jump up as high as you can.
4. As you land, bend your knees to soften the landing and lower your hips into a squat.
5. Repeat this exercise as many times as you can.

6. Jump-Ups

Props: A step or low bench for each participant

Steps:

1. Stand facing a step, with your arms at your sides.
2. While bending your left leg, place your left foot in the middle of the step. Keep your weight evenly distributed over the balls of your feet.
3. Push off with both feet, jumping straight up as high as you can. Let your arms swing up overhead.
4. Pause between jumps only long enough to maintain balance.
5. Do 10 Jump-Ups with the same leg leading each jump and then switch legs.

7. Broad Jumps

Props: Chalk or a jump rope to mark a starting line

For kids this age, I recommend that you do this exercise outside and clearly designate the line from which each player must jump.

Steps:

1. Start from a stationary position, without running. Bring your toes up to the starting line and swing your arms. Use the momentum you get to swing yourself forward into a jump.
2. Land on your feet, making sure that you bend your knees.
3. Repeat this exercise for three minutes.

8. 180- or 360-Degree Turn

This jumping activity will help children learn how to turn while jumping.

To make it easier, I recommend that you set a visual target on each side for the children to focus on.

Steps:

1. Divide the group into pairs or have the players choose partners. One player will act as the spotter while the other partner turns and faces one of the objects at his or her side.
2. As the jumping partner, jump up in the air and turn yourself 180 degrees to face the object on the opposite side.
3. If you feel confident with a half-turn, increase the turn until you can jump in a complete circle (360 degrees). To avoid getting dizzy, reverse the direction of the jump after each jump.
4. Repeat your jump at least three times and then switch roles with your partner.

9. Single-Leg Hops

Steps:

1. Stand on your left leg while bending your right leg at the knee.
2. Bring the heel of your right foot towards your bottom, and grasp and hold the ankle.
3. Hop around the room, while counting the number of successful hops.
4. Repeat this action 25 times on each leg.

10. Popcorn

Steps:

1. Start from a squatting position, with your hands touching the floor.
2. Explode upward, while swinging your arms up overhead, and land softly back in a squatting position.
3. Repeat this exercise 25 times.

The abdominal and back muscles work together to support the spine when we sit, stand, bend over, pick things up, and exercise.

So, it is important to train these muscles regularly to be fit.

In this article, For Kids introduces the top 30 core strengthening exercises for kids and beginners.

Try the following core workout routine at home or the gym to strengthen these muscles and to avoid back pain. How to perform this workout?

30 core strengthening exercises for beginners

1. Tabletop

Steps:

1. Start out on all fours. Slide your right leg behind you and lift it to hip height.
2. Do not sink into your left hip; keep your hips parallel with the floor.
3. Slide your left arm out in front of you, keeping your palm facing the floor.
4. Keep your head and neck in alignment with your spine.
5. Lift your left arm to shoulder height. Hold the pose for 10 breaths.
6. Slowly lower your arm and then your leg to the floor.

2. Ball Sit

Props: A large exercise ball for each participant.

Steps:

1. Use the largest ball you have.
2. Sit on ball with both feet flat on floor and with your head lifted.
3. Lift one foot off the floor as high as you can, keeping the knee bent, and hold this position for 30 seconds.
4. Slowly lower your foot and repeat with the other side.

3. Long Neck

Steps:

1. Stand with your feet hip-distance apart, your arms at your sides, and your belly button pulled back toward your spine.
2. Elongate your neck and imagine touching the top of your head to the ceiling, but keep your chin parallel to the floor.
3. Rotate your shoulders back and down.
4. Hold and breathe into this position for 30 seconds.

4. Modified Tree

Yoga is a great way to teach children to balance. Tree pose is a common yoga position. Want to know how to do this core strengthening exercise for kids? Read on…

Steps:

1. From a standing position, shift your weight onto your right foot.
2. Raise your left knee and place the bottom of your left foot on your right leg, at the ankle, calf, or knee.
3. Hold your hands out to the sides for balance.
4. Hold this position and count to 10 before returning to the starting position.
5. Repeat the movement with the other leg.

Find more balancing exercises: Balance games for kids

5. Airplane

Challenge the children’s balance by asking them to place their body in a different “plane.”

Steps:

1. From a standing position, raise your arms out to the side at shoulder level.
2. Balancing on your right leg, swing your left leg behind your body.
3. Bend at the waist. Hold this position and count to 10 before slowly coming back into a standing position.
4. Repeat the movement with the other leg.

6. V Sit

Steps:

1. Begin by sitting with your legs bent and your feet on the floor.
2. Slowly straighten the right leg so the foot lifts off the floor.
3. You should be balancing on your tailbone.
4. Slowly straighten the left leg, too, so that both feet are off the floor.
5. Your body should now look like the letter V.
6. With your arms, you can grab your legs for support or remain out to the side for balance.
7. Hold for a count of 10, return to the starting position, and repeat 3 times.

7. Pointer

Steps:

1. Begin with hands and knees on the floor.
2. Extend your right leg straight out behind your body, pointing your toes.
3. Hold. Once you feel balanced, begin to move your right leg in a circle, being careful not to move any other part of your body, only your leg.
4. Imagine if your toes are a crayon and you are drawing big circles and little circles.
5. Draw 10 circles. Repeat the movement with the other side of the body 10 times.

8. Isolation Challenges

Steps:

1. Stand with your arms straight out to your sides at shoulder height, palms down.
2. Keeping your hips still, lift your rib cage and slide it side to side 20 times.

9. Twister

Steps:

1. In a standing position, stretch your arms out to your sides at shoulder height.
2. Twist your upper body to the left as far as possible; your head and neck should turn with your body.
3. Then twist right. Don’t let your arms rotate the body; the torso should be doing the work with the arms just following.
4. Repeat this movement 10 times.

10. Windmill

This is a fun one where the kids get to use their arms like a windmill. Here’s how to perform this workout.

Steps:

1. Begin in a standing position with your feet farther than hip-distance apart and your arms stretched out to your sides at shoulder height.
2. Twist your torso. Bending and twisting at your waist, bring your right arm to touch your left foot.
3. Come back up to the starting position and repeat the movement on the other side.

11. Spine Extension

Steps:

1. Lie on your stomach with your arms at your sides and place your chin on a mat.
2. Imagine reaching out through the top of your head with a long neck as you lift your head off the floor.
3. Hold the position and breathe before slowly lowering your head.
4. Repeat 5 times.

12. Goal Post

Steps:

1. Lie facedown. Rest your forehead on a small pillow if needed.
2. Bend your arms to a 90-degree angle and lift them off the floor as high as you can.
3. Holding your arms in the up position, breathe and count to 10 before slowly lowering them again.
4. Repeat 5 times.

13. Bicycle

Steps:

1. Sit on the floor, with knees bent. Lean back slightly.
2. Bring your right knee toward your chest and extend your left foot out. Switch legs as if cycling.

14. Overhead Stretch

Steps:

1. Begin in a standing position. Place your left hand on your hip.
2. Straighten your right arm overhead and lean to your left side. Lean and hold the stretch.
3. Change arms. Place right hand on hip. Bring your left arm up overhead and lean to your right side.
4. Hold. Concentrate on stretching and lengthening the body.

15. Rock ’n Roll

Props: A small pillow for each participant

Steps:

1. Lie on your back with your arms by your side and your knees in the air.
2. Place a small pillow between your knees.
3. Roll your knees toward your chest and then bring them back down to starting position.
4. Repeat this movement 10 times.

16. Hula Hips

Steps:

1. Stand with your hands on your waist and your feet wider than hip-distance apart.
2. Circle your hips to the right several times. Reverse, circling your hips to the left several times.

17. Chop It Off

Steps:

1. From a standing position with your arms overhead, squat and rotate your torso quickly by swinging both arms to one side.
2. Your arms will be parallel to the ground as you rotate.
3. Quickly stand up, swinging your arms back overhead, and repeat the exercise on the other side.

18. Child’s Pose

Steps:

1. Kneel down. Keeping your neck in a neutral position, fold over at the waist and stretch your arms out in front of you.
2. Relax and breathe. Use this posture whenever you need to rest from other yoga postures and remain in this posture until you feel ready to move on.

19. Superman on a Ball

Props: A large exercise ball for each participant

Steps:

1. Place your body facedown over the ball, with your feet touching the floor and your arms overhead.
2. Lift up your right arm with your left leg, hold, and breathe for 15 seconds.
3. Slowly lower that arm and leg and repeat the exercise with your other side.

20. Pelvic Tilt on a Ball

Props:

A large exercise ball for each participant

Steps:

1. Sit on the center of the ball.
2. Align your knees over your ankles and place your legs hip-width apart.
3. Pull in your belly button, curl your tailbone forward, and let the ball roll slightly forward under your bottom.
4. Push back the tailbone and roll the ball back.
5. Repeat 10 times.

21. Trunk Twists

Props:

A small-to medium-size ball for each participant

Steps:

1. Sit with your knees bent and together, your feet apart for balance, and a ball between your hands.
2. Lean back at a 45-degree angle, halfway between sitting up straight and lying down.
3. Hold the ball in front of you, arms extended.
4. Looking at the ball, move it from side to side by twisting your upper body 20 times.

22. Hip Swivels

Props:

A small-to medium-size ball for each participant

Steps:

1. Lie on your back with your knees up and pointing toward the ceiling, arms on the floor extending away from the body.
2. Put a ball between your knees. Slowly rotate your hips from one side to the other, allowing your legs to touch lightly on the floor 20 times.

23. Tummy Twists

Steps:

1. Lie on your back and lift your knees toward your chest.
2. Stretch your arms out at shoulder height on each side of your body.
3. Keeping knees together, slowly lower both knees toward the right side.
4. Do not let your knees touch the ground and do not let your hips come off the ground.
5. Hold in the lowest position.
6. Breathe, count to 5, and slowly return knees to the middle.
7. Now, slowly lower both knees toward the left side.
8. Hold, breathe, count to 5, and slowly return to the middle.

24. Seated Knee to Chest

Props:

A chair for each participant

Steps:

1. Sit up straight in a chair, with your feet on the floor.
2. Place your hands on the sides of the chair seat.
3. Slowly raise a knee and bring it as close to your chest as you can, and hold this position for 15 seconds.
4. Be sure you are still sitting up tall in the chair. Slowly return your foot to the floor and repeat 10 times.
5. Then repeat the exercise 10 times with your other leg.

25. T-Shape

Steps:

1. Lie facedown with your arms forward, spread open at chest level.
2. Keep your toes, knees, and hips touching the ground.
3. Squeeze your shoulder blades together at your mid-back; raise your arms slightly off the ground.
4. Keep your elbows bent and your palms facing the ground.
5. Hold and breathe for 10 seconds. Release and repeat.

26. Sit Ups

Divide the group into pairs or have the kids choose partners.

Steps:

1. Have your partner sit on the floor with her knees bent and her arms crossed across her chest.
2. Place your hands on her ankles. The sitting partner will lower her upper body to the floor, exhale, and slowly come back up to a seated position.
3. If this is too difficult for either partner, go only halfway down.
4. Each of you should do as many repetitions as you can and then switch roles.

27. Reverse Crunches

Steps:

1. Lie on your back and lift your knees toward your chest.
2. Keep your arms flat by your sides. Pull your belly button back toward your spine and roll your hips a couple of inches off the floor.
3. Breathe and repeat 10 times.

28. Double Leg Pull

Steps:

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.
2. Slide your bottom under so your lower back is pressed against the floor.
3. Raise your shoulders and hug your knees to your chest.
4. Now raise both of your arms overhead while extending your legs straight out and keeping your back flat.
5. Pause and breathe and then return to the starting position. Do as many as you can.

29. Roll Like a Ball

Steps:

1. Sit on the floor and hug your knees to your chest.
2. Balance on your tailbone and lift your feet. Pull your stomach muscles in and roll back onto your lower back.
3. Immediately roll back up onto your tailbone and balance.
4. Repeat 10 times.

30. Superman Hold

Divide the group into pairs or have the children choose partners. Here’s how to perform this exercise.

Steps:

1. Have your partner lie on the floor facedown with arms and legs stretched out.
2. Grab your partner’s ankles and have him slowly lift his upper body off of the floor.
3. Have him hold this position for 3 seconds before lowering to repeat.
4. Each partner should do as many repetitions as they can and then switch roles.

Core strengthening exercises for kids video

There are a lot of benefits of exercise for kids and adults. One of those benefits is to strengthen body muscles.

Try to vary between strengthening exercises. For the upper body, core muscles as in the previous workouts, and the lower body, to make all muscle groups stronger.

image 2: Michael Coghlan; image 3: dolanh

If you’re wondering how to keep your kids safe while playing and doing exercises, including team sports such as soccer and basketball, and extreme sports as kickboxing, forkids.com will introduce a few safety tips that’ll work for any game or activity below.

We’ll also let you know about the necessary safety equipment that’s needed for various types of sports.

Safety comes first: 6 basic tips

1. Clean the play area

Be sure that the play area is free of electrical cords, sharp objects or anything else that could harm the children.

2. Use appropriate equipment

If any fitness equipment is needed for your activities, be sure that it’s age-appropriate and that the children know how to use each piece correctly before starting.

3. Practice good hydration

Keep the children hydrated, even in cooler temperatures.

4. Wear suitable clothes

Make sure the children are wearing clothing that’s appropriate for the weather and temperature, especially if you’re outdoors.

5. Use sunscreen

Don’t forget to apply (and reapply) sunscreen if you’re going to participate in outdoor activities.

6. Enlist adult supervision

Ensure that the children are supervised by responsible adults during any activity.

Safety equipment for specific sports and exercises for kids

Some safety issues apply to specific sports and activities.

For instance, a helmet, mouth guards, body pads and eye gear may be needed for particular sports.

1. Helmet

Helmets are needed for sports such as baseball, football, softball, biking, snow sports and rollerblading. Your kids must always wear the correct helmet for the sport they’re playing.

The helmet should have a sticker from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which designates that it’s safe to wear for a particular activity, such as biking.

2. Body pads

Elbow, knee and wrist pads should be worn when a child is skateboarding, snowboarding, skating or playing ice hockey, to help prevent broken bones.

3. Mouth Guards

 If children are playing a sport in which there’s a chance of them getting hit in the head—especially the face—they need to obtain and use mouth guards. You can get mouth guards for kids from a dentist or a sporting goods store.

4. Eye Protection

Special eye protection may be needed for sports such as ice hockey, lacrosse and racquetball. 

Regardless of the sport, make sure any goggles and face masks a child uses fits snugly against the face.

Exercise for kids is an essential part of life if you’re a parent or caregiver, but you must take these basic precautions outlined above to minimize the incidence of injuries.

Relay games are particularly fun for kids and help them learn about teamwork.

These games are also competitive, which can make kids and adults alike put forth their best effort.

In this article, For Kids will round up six of the funniest relay races and games for kids, which can be played both indoors and outdoors.

These races will make your kids happy and active, while training their muscles as well.

6 relay games for kids

1. Animal Relay

To start up this kind of indoor and outdoor funny relay race for kids, divide the players into two teams. The teams must form two lines with equal numbers of people in each.

Adults will assign players a type of animal to imitate.

Steps:

1. Assign the first players on each team the same animal.
2. Assign the second players the same animal, too, but one that’s different from the first players, and so on, until you reach the end of each line.
3. On “Go,” the first player must act like their assigned animal by running, hopping, crawling, slithering and/or galloping to the goal line and back.
4. When done, the first player must tag the next player.
5. The next player then acts like their animal and so on, until one team is finished and sitting down.
6. The first team with everyone sitting down wins this race.

2. Beanbag Race

Props: One beanbag for each participant

Designate a starting line, a finish line and a leader to call out directions.

Players will race to the finish line, following the directions they hear and carrying their beanbags.

This relay game doesn’t really need to have a winner. It’s just for fun! It can be played as an indoor and outdoor activity.

Steps:

1. Place your beanbag either on your head or between your legs. The object of the game is to reach the finish line with your beanbag still in place.
2. On “Go,” the leader will tell you to walk, run, hop, gallop, skip, crawl, walk backward or move in any other way they can imagine.
3. Move towards the finish line, performing the assigned movements and carrying your beanbag in its original position.

3. Potato Sack Race

Props: One sack for each participant

Designate a starting line, a finish line and a leader to call out directions.

Steps:

1. One person will say, “Go.”
2. You must immediately step into your sack, and while holding onto it, hop as fast as you can to the finish line.

4. Wheelbarrow Race

Each team will consist of one player in the Wheelbarrow position (#10) and another player acting as the pusher, who will pick up the ankles of the wheelbarrow and support their body.

Steps:

1. On “Go,” the wheelbarrow partner must move forward on their hands while you hold tightly onto their ankles.
2. Race to the finish line.

This game will help kids strengthen their muscles and try new movements.

5. Egg-and-Spoon Relay

Props: An egg (hard-boiled) for each team; one spoon for each participant

Divide the players into two teams. Give every player a spoon and each team a hard-boiled egg.

Each teammate will run one leg of the race.

Steps:

1. Each child must take a turn carrying their team’s egg on its spoon from the starting line to a turnaround point and back again.
2. Once a player is finished, they must pass the egg to the next teammate in line. If you drop the egg, you must stop and retrieve it.
3. The team that finishes the race first wins the game.

6. Hula Hoop Race

Props: A hula hoop for each team

Divide the group into two teams. Each team will join hands to form a circle.

Steps:

1. Loop a hula hoop over your arm.
2. Without letting go of hands of the players beside you, step into and through the hoop, so it rests on your other arm.
3. Next, slide the hoop onto the next player’s arm, so they can repeat the maneuver.
4. Whichever team can pass the hoop all the way around the circle first, without letting go of each others’ hands, is the winner.

Variation: If you have a large group of players, you can turn this game into a competition by forming two straight lines with the same amount of players.

The game is played the same as above, but the team that finishes first wins that round.

Regardless of the variation you choose, mix up the players and allow at least 15 minutes for this particular indoor and outdoor relay game for kids.