Physical Games for Kids

The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion reports a tripling of childhood obesity from 1980 to 2008. Being overweight or obese as a child increases a child’s risk of developing diabetes and certain forms of cancer and becoming overweight as an adult . The excess weight an obese child carries may negatively affect the child’s self-esteem and emotional health. Different physical games and activities provide children with ways to burn calories, participate socially and be active.

Red Light, Green Light

Red Light, Green Light, also known as Traffic Lights, physically challenges kids and requires mental and physical alertness. During this game, one person is the "stoplight," who faces away from the other kids and stands 50 feet in front of them. When the "stoplight" yells "green," the kids run toward him, attempting to tag him. At any point, he can turn around and yell "red," signaling for the other kids to immediately stop running. If he sees any kids move after he turns, he calls their name and they are out of the game. The kid who touches the "stoplight" first wins and assumes his position during the next round.

Tag

Tag, a group game, requires constant activity and also provides kids with a reason to move. In the original game, a designated person is “it” and chases the other kids until he tags one, who then becomes the next tagger. At the beginning of the game, establishing a safe zone, such as a bench, where children can rest without being tagged, prevents children from running out of energy or overexerting themselves during the game.

Variations of the original game include Freeze Tag and TV Tag, which challenge kids' concentration and physical capabilities. During TV Tag, the tagger chases the other kids and attempts to tag someone. If the person being chased names a show and sits down before being tagged, she is safe from becoming "it." If she fails to name a show, does not sit in time or repeats a TV show she said earlier in the game, the tag renders her "it."

Freeze Dancing

Freeze dancing, a group game that requires physical activity, teaches kids to pay attention to instructions and helps them learn how to control their body movements. While the music plays, the children dance and can express their creativity and individuality through movement. When you abruptly turn the music off, they must immediately stop dancing. When you turn the music back on, they start dancing again. These guidelines are appropriate for younger kids, while older kids may enjoy more of a challenge. For older kids, those who don’t stop dancing when the music shuts off are out and must watch until only one kid remains standing.

Jumping Rope

Jumping rope, whether done solo, in pairs or during double dutch, involves a rope that kids loop around their body while jumping over it. The American Heart Association reports that the benefits of jumping rope extend beyond gains in cardiovascular and muscular health and improvements in coordination. Balancing and jumping may improve spatial awareness and increase mental alertness, and both of those skills can help a kid excel on the playground and in the classroom.

Family Games

The University of Wisconsin-Extension recommends turning family time into game time as a way to increase your physical activity levels. Exercising as a family may increase the amount of time that you spend together and helps you model healthy lifestyle choices for your kids. Examples of family friendly physical games include disc golf, potato sack races, bowling and swimming relays. A family game of football, kickball or soccer provides you and your kids with an opportunity to get fit and be active together.