Childhood obesity, which occurs when a child is well over his optimal weight, can lead to many serious health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic. One way to combat childhood obesity is to provide your child with a way to participate in fat-burning cardio games and exercises.
Indoor Cardio Games
While avoiding video games and too much television and computer screen time can go a long way toward encouraging a child to exercise, KidzWorld suggests the video game Dance Dance Revolution for a dose of exercise on cold or rainy days. Other games that use game systems, such as the Nintendo Wii Fit, can get your child up and moving, and get his heart pumping.
More ideas for indoor cardio exercising include jumping rope, rebounding with a small trampoline, dancing and using exercise videos. These types of exercise are fun and don't take a lot of room or equipment.
Individual Cardio Games
FitWatch recommends swimming and hackey sack as fun cardio games for kids that can be done individually. Other ideas that don't require a certain number of children include bike riding, riding scooters and going for a walk. One or two children can enjoy hopscotch or bouncing a ball off a garage door with a tennis racket. Many children who do not like to compete against others enjoy karate and other martial arts.
Cardio Games for a Team
Any team sport has the potential to provide a lot of fun cardiovascular exercise. Basketball, volleyball, baseball and soccer are examples of games that require running, jumping and kicking. Children often enjoy playing games like kickball or flag football with a group of children in the neighborhood. Kids don't necessarily need an adult to orchestrate rules or oversee the play, and they may enjoy the autonomy of creating new rules as they go. As long as they are moving their bodies and having fun, try not to interfere with their game play.
Play Yard Games
Many children enjoy play yard games such as four-square, Mother May I, Red Light Green Light and Red Rover. Tag is a great game that offers a powerful cardio punch. If the children are bored with regular tag, suggest varieties such as TV tag or freeze tag. Young children often like to play Duck, Duck, Goose and hide-and-seek.
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