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It can be tough to come up with things to do with kids, but even more so if you want to keep your kids active and healthy. Here are the best wellness activities for healthy kids.
The best thing about kids is that they will always be ready to try something new. They have a natural willingness to put themselves out and explore the world around them. With the right guidance, we can help our children develop into confident and self-aware individuals who are willing to take on new challenges.
There’s no better way of doing this than by incorporating wellness activities for kids into their everyday life. These activities don’t just promote mental and physical growth – they also help your child develop an appreciation for nature and build confidence in themselves.
If you’re not sure how to get started, check out this article for some ideas. We cover everything from outdoor activities to crafts, sports, games as well as indoor activities that are perfect when the weather is not so great outside.
The basic idea of wellness activities young children can do is to get your kids outside and get them active and living a healthy lifestyle. Even if you can’t get outside you can get their brains working and their bodies moving with dance parties, creative activities and getting messy in the kitchen along with some healthy eating.
See also: How To Spend Quality Time With Kids
Wellness Activities Kids Love
Go To Playground
Swings, slides, sandboxes, and tunnels are all great ways to keep your kids active. You can do your own playground workout while keeping one eye on the kids. Try doing interactive activities with the kids such as playing hide and seek, or creating a obstacle course that promoted imaginative play.
Going outside to the playground as often as possible is important for a child’s mental health, and it’s tons of fun as well. When we have a too much stress going on at home, my go-to activity is the playground.
Make smoothies
It fascinates small children to mix things together. Allow them to assist you in loading your smoothie blender or processor with fruit, almond milk, and vegetables. Allow children to realise that vegetables may also be enjoyed as a beverage. You may challenge your kids to a green beverage!
Invest in some reusable colour straws and your smoothies will be a hit.
Go On A Nature Walk
Do you have a nice park that you can enjoy near your home? A family walk is another one of my favorite wellness activities. It’s also great for my own mental wellbeing. This can be done on a rainy day or a sunny day, there are no set guidelines of course.
If you’re going to be a while, bring some healthy food such as blueberries, or watermelon slices for when it’s time to take a rest. Don’t forget your water either!
Plant A Garden
Flowers, herbs, or vegetables? Pick your favourite and show your kids how to grow things with their two small hands by digging in the ground with them.
Then you may show them how to put what you’ve grown to good use.
You may even purchase them their own gardening equipment to give them a sense of pride.
Cook
Nothing beats preparing a nutritious meal for your children and watching them devour it without complaining.
Take A Day Trip
Boredom is avoided by changing up the routine. Take a trip to a nearby town and try something different.
Take a swim in a lake, go hiking on a new route, or let your kids play on a brand-new playground.
Allow your children to enjoy a change of scenery and schedule.
See also: Best Travel Activities For Kids
Go Swimming or To A Splash Pad
Swimming has earned a place in the hall of fame of beneficial exercises!
Are you a member of a pool club? Do you have a pool? Get some colourful noodles and make a splash this summer by swimming with the kids on a daily basis.
Swim strokes or floats can be practised, or simply see who can produce the greatest splash.
Set Up A Race
If you have toddlers, all you need to do is get ready, set, and go. They will like running, running, running in a park or along a walking route.
Make it a fun race to see who can run the quickest if your kids are older.
Trip To The Farmers Market
The best way for children to learn healthy habits is for them to observe your healthy habits. Allowing kids to accompany you to the farmer’s market is a great way to teach them.
Stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. What’s even better? Allow them each $5 to spend on something nutritious.
You can create nutritious snacks or have them help you cook a healthy supper with the materials you just bought when you arrive home.
Get Creative
Let your kids get creative with writing, painting or drawing. Give them some random art materials and see what they can create!
I like to keep “how to draw” books on hand so my kids can learn how to draw certain objects or animals according to their skill level. This can keep them busy for a while!
If you need a good resource to share with your kids, I have just the thing for you! Global Tinker’s Mini Meditations for Kids is a mindfulness podcast series that is designed to help children develop a growth mindset.
The meditations are short, lasting about five minutes, to keep children’s attention. They are also free and easy to access. The meditations provide functional tips, breathing exercises and mindfulness techniques to help children in different situations such as taking a test, making mistakes and dealing with general anxiety.
The series is an offshoot of the award-winning animated series, The Paper Girls Show, which aims to empower children to be resilient, confident and curious learners. The podcast is a great tool for parents, educators and caregivers to introduce children to mindfulness and help them develop a positive attitude towards making mistakes and growing from them.
Do A Hike
Have a hill you wanted to climb for a while now? Take the kids! Make the adventure even more fun by letting your kids choose which direction you should go.
Encourage the Kids To Perform
I loved to put on dance recitals for my parents growing up. Encourage your child to do stand up comedy (here are some jokes for kids), magic shows, puppet shows and more!
Get Outside on Bikes or Scooters
I love a good family bike ride. It’s great exercise for everyone and it really encourages that bonding time that your kids really need.
Visit The Zoo
Print out a scavenger hunt for the zoo before you go and let your kids learn all about new animals. Everyone loves a good trip to the zoo.
Have A Beach Day
Nothing says wellness like a relaxing day at the beach. Well it’s relaxing for kids anyway. A day in the sun can be so much fun at the beach. There are so many mom hacks that you need to know about if you’re planning on a beach day, find them here!
Play Ball
This one is super easy. Get a ball, a frisbee or even a kit and head to a field near you! This is an easy family activity that takes no effort at all and is a great way to keep everyone active and healthy.
Splash In The Yard
Whether you want to use a slip n slide or splash around the water table, getting wet in the backyard on a hot summer day is one of my kids favorite activities. This covers basic sensory needs, fresh air, and it keeps the kids cool on a summer day!
Remember your summer safety rules!
See also: 6 Best Water Tables For Kids For The Best Sensory Play Experience
Camp In The Yard
Set up your tents and host a backyard camping night – or week! You still have access to bathrooms and kitchen while allowing your kids to sleep outdoors and stay away from electronics while they play outside!
Each family member can have their own tent or you can sleep in one tent all together. This is fun for kids of all ages and you can be a healthy role model and teach your kids outdoor skills doing different tasks!
See also: Camping Gift Ideas For Kids That Are Outdoorsy
Mini Golf
Take your family on a mini golf day! This was always a really fun activity for me growing up. Mini golf is actually super great for teaching kids some gross motor skills and patience as well.
We all know that regular physical activity is super important in supporting children’s mental health and healthy activities such as mini golf are a great option for getting active.
Splash In The Rain
You CAN go outside in the rain and do outdoor activities. You won’t melt, I promise. Get your young kids geared up in their cutest rain gear and let them wonder around in the puddles. Getting out in nature in all kinds of weather plays an important role in emotional wellness and physical health.
This isn’t just for toddlers older kids love this activity too!
Do Some Yard Work
I loved to mow the lawn when I was a kid. It gave my dad a break from doing it, and it was honestly my favorite chore! I don’t so much love it anymore, but heck my kids like to help me tidy up the yard now too. Let them pick up the toys before you mow the lawn, power up the mower if it’s safe and they are old enough and let them help.
Running
Running is a great way to get your child moving and burning off some energy. It can also be done almost anywhere, so it’s perfect if you don’t have access to a gym or outdoor space.
If you’re a parent, you’ll know that exercising can be a challenge when you’re busy taking care of your family. Trying to find time to hit the gym is challenging enough as it is, but with kids at home you need activities that you can do quickly and easily whenever you get a chance.
Running is perfect for this – all it requires is a bit of open space and a pair of running shoes.
Cycling
If your child is old enough, cycling is a fun way for them to get outside and explore their local area. Cycling can be done on both paved and unpaved paths, depending on the age of the child.
Make sure the helmet fits properly, and insist on them wearing gloves to avoid blisters on their hands. You can use cycling as a way to explore new places, or just as a fun way of getting from A to B.
You can also go on cycling tours with other families, or even compete in cycling races if your child is competitive.
Swimming
Growing up near the ocean, swimming is something that many people take for granted. Swimming is a great way to stay healthy and can be done almost anywhere regardless of the weather.
Whether your child is competitive or just likes the sensation of being in the water, swimming is a perfect way to get some exercise while having fun. If you live near the coast, you can also take advantage of the tide to clean your house’s exterior.
If you don’t live near the ocean, you can still get your child swimming by heading to a public pool.
Hiking
Hiking is a great way to explore the great outdoors while getting some fresh air. This activity is suitable for almost any age group and any level of fitness.
It’s a great way to spend time with the family and get some fresh air. You can choose a nearby trail or even create your own by walking through the woods.
Arts and crafts
Art and crafts are an excellent way to encourage your child to explore their creativity.
There are many different art and craft activities for kids of all ages, so you can choose something that’s suitable for your child’s skill level. Some kids might enjoy painting, while others might prefer writing, drawing, or creating something with their hands.
There are plenty of opportunities to incorporate arts and crafts into your family’s daily routine. You can use them as a way to de-stress, do something creative together as a family, or create something to display at home.
Games and sports
Games and sports are a great way to help your child develop social skills and learn to work as part of a team. If you have access to an organized team, your child can benefit from the support and encouragement of their teammates.
Even if you don’t have access to a team, there are plenty of games and sports you can do on your own with your child. If you and your child enjoy watching sports, try to go to games in your local area.
You can even create your own games to play at home. Just make sure to choose games and sports that are suitable for your child’s age and skill level.
Wellness Activities For Kids Bottom Line
Fun ways to engage in healthy behaviors and boost your immune system can include a variety of activities that the whole family can participate in.
From physical activities like jump rope or a penny hike, to educational programs and healthy recipes, there are plenty of simple ways to incorporate healthy habits into your family’s daily routine. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends regular exercise and following resources like third-party websites for expert advice on maintaining the health and wellbeing of young people.
Other fun exercises include playing board games, hula hoops, and even having a dance party. Engaging in fun activities like these can also help to build emotional skills and foster a sense of community. The summer schools and web page of the adult care food program can be a great resource for finding new and exciting ways to make healthy choices. Personal goals and following resources is a great way to keep track of personal information and health care for older children.
The nature center is a perfect opportunity to explore the great outdoors and develop a great skill. The school nutrition programs are a great way to make sure children get the nourishment they need for academic learning. The new rainbocorn is a fun game that is perfect for little kids and their favorite books. The musical instrument is a great way to develop creativity and boost energy levels.
Bright futures and community health are important aspects of personal and overall wellbeing, and there is plenty of time to have fun while learning.
These are just a few examples of how you can help your child grow healthy and strong by incorporating wellness activities. There are so many different things you can do with kids – the only thing you have to do is get creative and try something new!
With the right mindset, any parent can make wellness activities a regular part of their family life. There is no better way of helping your children become confident and well-rounded individuals.
