3 Exercises You Can Do Outside with Young Children

In today’s digital age, it’s crucial to encourage children to engage in physical activities and spend time outdoors. Exercising with young children not only promotes their physical health but also enhances their coordination, motor skills, and overall well-being. By incorporating outdoor exercises into their routine, you can foster a love for physical activity and create lasting memories with your little ones. In this article, we will explore three exercises that you can do outside with young children, making fitness fun and enjoyable for the whole family.

Animal Walks

Animal walks are a creative and engaging exercise that young children will love. This exercise imitates the movements of various animals, allowing kids to explore their imagination while building strength and coordination. Here are a few animal walks you can try:

Bear Crawl 

Start on all fours with hands and feet on the ground. Encourage your child to imitate a bear’s walk by lifting their knees and moving their opposite hand and foot forward simultaneously. This exercise strengthens the core, upper body, and promotes balance.

Frog Jumps 

Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and crouch down like a frog. Jump forward, extending the legs and landing softly in a crouched position again. Repeat the jumps, emphasizing proper landing techniques. Frog jumps enhance leg strength and cardiovascular endurance.

Crab Walk

Sit on the ground with your child, bending the knees and placing hands behind. Lift the hips off the ground, and encourage your child to walk backward, imitating a crab’s movement. This exercise targets the upper body, core, and promotes coordination.

Bunny Hops

Stand with feet together and encourage your child to jump forward using both feet simultaneously, imitating a bunny’s hop. This exercise develops lower body strength, coordination, and agility.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

A nature scavenger hunt combines physical activity with the excitement of exploration. It encourages children to observe their surroundings, engage their senses, and actively search for specific items. This activity can be tailored to suit different ages and environments. Here’s how to organize a nature scavenger hunt:

• Prepare a list of items or characteristics to find in nature, such as a smooth rock, a yellow flower, a bird’s nest, or a leaf with jagged edges.
• Provide each child with a bag or a basket to collect their findings.
• Explore a local park, garden, or nature trail together, allowing the children to search for the items on the list.
• Encourage physical activity by incorporating additional challenges, such as hopping like a bunny between search locations or running to the next item on the list.
• Take breaks for stretching or light exercises, such as jumping jacks or high knees, to keep the energy levels up.

A nature scavenger hunt not only promotes physical activity but also nurtures curiosity, appreciation for nature, and cognitive skills through observation and problem-solving.

Obstacle Course

Setting up an obstacle course in your backyard or a local park is an excellent way to engage young children in outdoor exercise. Obstacle courses can be easily adapted to different skill levels and interests. Here’s how you can create a simple yet exciting obstacle course:

• Use cones, hula hoops, or objects you have on hand to mark stations or stations within the course.
• Incorporate a variety of activities such as jumping over hurdles (use pool noodles or low objects), crawling under ropes (use jump ropes or garden hoses), balancing on a beam (use a wooden plank or a line drawn on the ground), and hopping from one spot to another.
• Add fun challenges like tossing bean bags into a bucket, crawling through a tunnel, or jumping on stepping stones.
• Time your child as they complete the obstacle course and encourage them to beat their own records.
• Offer praise and rewards to motivate and celebrate their achievements.

An obstacle course encourages full-body movement, balance, coordination, and problem-solving skills while providing a sense of adventure and accomplishment.

Get Kids Moving with Bubbles & Friends

Engaging young children in outdoor exercises is an excellent way to promote their physical health, development, and a love for physical activity. Animal walks, nature scavenger hunts, and obstacle courses are just a few examples of exercises that can be done outside with young children. By incorporating these activities into your routine, you create opportunities for bonding, exploration, and laughter while fostering a healthy and active lifestyle. Remember to prioritize safety, provide supervision, and tailor the exercises to suit your child’s age and abilities. Embrace the joy of outdoor exercise and watch your children thrive both physically and mentally.For another activity that is both fun and educational, watch The Learning Experience’s Bubbles & Friends videos!