Ab Exercises for Kids

In terms of muscular development, the best abdominal exercises for kids are the same as those for adults. But kids can be particularly reckless in their movements, so a greater emphasis must be placed on exercise safety. These exercises have been shown through studies published in the American College of Sports Medicine's Health and Fitness Journal and the Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise to be both highly effective at muscular stimulation and exceptionally safe for the lower back.

Crunch with Feet Anchored

Lie on a padded exercise mat with your back and buttocks flush against the mat. Bend approximately 45 degrees at the hips and 90 degrees at the knees so your upper and lower legs form a right angle, and your feet are flat on the floor. Clasp your hands behind your head, or fold your arms across your chest. Optionally, hold an extra weight behind your head or against your chest. Have a training partner stand on your feet or press down on your ankles so your feet won't leave the floor. Contract your abdominals to pull your upper torso off the mat. Once your abdominals are fully contracted, pause, then return to the starting position.

Bicycle Crunch

Lie so your back and buttocks are flush against the mat. Raise your legs off the mat by bending slightly at the hips. Clasp your hands behind your head so your elbows point forward and outward. Contract your abdominals and obliques to pull your right leg toward your torso, bending at the knee. Simultaneously, pull your left elbow toward your right knee. Once contact is made between your elbow and your knee, pause, then return to the starting position. Repeat for the opposite elbow and knee.

Hanging Straight Leg Raise

Suspend yourself using a roman chair, pull up bar or other apparatus capable of suspending your entire body vertically so your legs don't touch the ground when fully extended. Keeping your torso static and your legs straight, contract your abdominals to simultaneously raise both legs in a forward arcing motion. Once your legs form a right angle with your torso, or once you've raised them as high as you are able, pause. Squeezing your abdominals for support, return to the starting position in a slow, controlled inverse motion.