1)Hopscotch – there are two perks of hopscotch as it is both a craft and an exercise. First you will need to make the hopscotch:
There are two ways to make your own hopscotch:
First you need to clear a little space, enough for five squares or seven squares in length and two squares in width. Each square will need to be big enough for the largest foot taking part.
First way: Tape – This method is not recommended on carpet or anything that may peel up with the use of tape
You will need:
- Tape
- Scissors
- Something to use to measure your squares
How to make:
- Measure out a square to the size you need based on foot size. This will be square 1 if you want to number your hopscotch
- Squares 2 and 3 should be next to each other above square 1. They should both be the same size as square 1 and will meet in the middle of square 1 as shown below.
3. Continue the 1, 2, 1, 2 pattern until you have 7 or 10 squares.
Second way:
You will need:
- Cardboard or paper
- Scissors
- Something to use to measure your squares
How to make:
- With cardboard or paper, measure out your squares. Cut out 7 or 10 squares
- Put these squares into a hopscotch shape
To play the hopscotch find an item that is light and will not cause damage and throw it into one of the squares. Then hop on one foot on square 1, hop on to both feet (1 in square 2 and 1 in square 3) and then back to the 1 foot for square 4. Hop to the item, pick it up and then hop back. Get creative in your hopping to keep the game interesting.
The movements involved in hopscotch build body strength, balance, eye/hand coordination and more.
2) Indoor Bowling
You will need:
- 6 Empty bottles
- A ball – If you don’t have a ball you can: fold socks inside each other until they are able to use as a ball, you can make a paper mâché ball or you can fill a balloon with water and put it in the freezer to make a ball (this could get messy)
How to make:
- Fill each bottle with water, these will be your pins. You can experiment with different amounts to make the game harder. To make an easy game fill the bottles with a small amount of water so that the pins are easier to knock down. To make the game harder, or to make the bottles harder to knock over, fill the bottles fuller. (make sure the cap is on tight so there are no spills)
- Line up the pins so you have 1 pin at the front, 2 pins behind that pin and then 3 pins behind that.
- You are ready to play! Get your ball and take it in turns to try and get a strike!
3) Potato golf
Lay out dishes and saucers of different sizes around 30-60cm apart on a table within the reach of participants. Then use a spoon to toss a small potato to each “hole” or dish using as few strokes as possible.
4) Change4Life shake up
Change4Life offer a variety of 10-minute shake ups to get your child moving. At the top of the page there is a quiz to see which activity will suit your child best. Most activities have 3-4 instructions and a helpful video.
This Girl Can also has fun Disney themed activities for you and your children.
5) Live Steams of Zoos and Aquariums
There are plenty of zoos and aquariums offering live feeds to watch, or filming their “animal enrichment” where the animals go on walks to see other animals, to name a few:
- Edinburgh Zoo
- Cumbria Wildlife Trust
- Marwell Zoo
- Maryland Zoo
- North American Bear Center
- Trevor Zoo
- Chattanooga Zoo
6) Activity Sheets
There are plenty of activity sheets out there to keep your kids occupied and entertained.
- Forestry England have a variety of different sheets such as:
- The Highway Rat activity sheets that feature making a hobby horse, making the Highway Rat’s hat and a colouring sheet
- The Gruffalo activity sheets that features a template to make an owl, a template to make and decorate a spiralling snake and a challenge sheet to complete
- The Zog activity sheets for different age groups featuring dragons
- For the one exercise a day, why not try using the James and the Giant Peach activity sheets full of exciting facts and games
If you are looking for advice and support on quitting smoking, keeping active and eating healthily, Everyone Active is currently providing telephone and digital sessions with our Health Trainers and Stop Smoking experts. Get in contact today: 0333 005 0095.
