Jump Rope Activities For Kids

It's time to get your kids to grab their jump ropes with you and start skipping. Show them some moves and they'll find that it doesn't even feel like working out. Everyone should stretch their arms and legs as if going for a run. Each kid will want to stay limber because it's hard to stop once they see that jumping around can be so much fun.

Solo Skipping

Each kid will need to learn the basic skip before trying out different ways of playing with the rope. Everyone can practice jumping while keeping their heels off the ground to get used bouncing off their toes. Demonstrate how to include the rope by holding each end of one and explain like so: Swing your arms from behind you to bring the rope over your head; quickly jump up as soon as you see the rope fall. Get them to repeat the movement to keep those ropes swinging in full circles over their head and under their feet. They'll soon learn that big arm movements and high jumps aren't necessary.

Rope N' Hopscotch

Kids are often familiar with hopscotch. Invite them to play the game using their jump ropes. This game will teach them to switch their feet and move while skipping as they go over the court. Everyone can practice beforehand by doing jumping jacks while jump roping. Kids love competing with adults too. Challenge them on the court with your rope for extra encouragement.

Rhythm and Rope

Ask your jumpers to skip to a song. Give a math problem to solve, or a word to define. Skipping rope can condition the brain for superior learning power. Offer your class to move their feet in different ways with each word and number said or sung while jumping. This exercise will build new ways for your kids to solve math problems, memorize word definitions and appreciate music. Maybe soon they can make a song out of defining words. After all, rhyming and jump roping together is a tradition.

Soccer Swings

When your kids really know their skipping, and are good at moving in different directions, you can speed things up. Bring the group and a soccer ball onto some grass. Have them chase the ball and pass it to each other while skipping. It's much like normal running except they'll have to bring their feet up more to make it over each skip of the rope. This exercise will build their endurance and conditioning while learning to get better coordinated on their feet. Caution them not to go too fast to avoid tripping.

Team Work

With a 14-foot jump rope, one kid on each end, place two kids holding the ends of a regular-sized rope in the middle. Add a lone jumper for the very center. Start with the short rope swinging and the center jumper jumping, then the long rope. All three in the middle need to jump to clear the long rope, but the center jumper must skip over both. This exercise encourages teamwork and coordination.