Stay active with Instant Recess!

On each day of the week, try to give yourself a physical break, a time to move and be active. It can be as short as 10 minutes, as long as it gets your heart beating just a bit faster.

Adults are recommended to fit in 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week to promote good health.

Children are recommended to have twice that amount, one hour of active play each day.

Remember, our children look to us and follow our example. If they see us being active, they are more likely to adopt that as part of a healthy lifestyle. Our daily recess can be as simple and as low cost as taking a walk down the street, around the block or at a park. It can even be a special time to reconnect as a family. Try one of our family fun activities listed below!

Active Alphabet:                  
For each letter of the alphabet, name an animal and move like that animal. Animal options: gallop like a horse, wag your tail like a dog, stretch like a cat, roll like a pig, flap wings like a bird, scurry like a mouse, hop like a kangaroo, wiggle like a snake, march like an ant, dance like a peacock.

Freeze Dance:                       
Find a family friendly CD to play music, when the music stops everyone freezes in a new  position.

Hide and Seek:                      
Everyone hides except for one family member. The person not hiding counts to 10 and then tries to find all the hiding people. The last one found wins! This can be played inside or outside. For outside, set up hiding boundaries.

Family Walking:                    
Choose a short path in your neighborhood and take a short walk after dinner.

Scavenger Hunt:                   
Parents make a list of items for children to find in the yard or at the park. List example:  a red leaf, three clovers, a small gray rock, a feather, a white flower, an acorn, a pinecone.

Simon Says:                            
Parents or an older child picks the moves and have the group follow the leader, but only when Simon Says. “Simon says, wave your hands above your head.”

Activities with equipment:  
Bike riding, Jump rope, Catch with a ball or Frisbee, flying a kite, Playground equipment

Relay Race:                             
Set up short races between two lines with different challenges for each race- hop to the other line on one foot, balance a ball on a book while racing to the other line, crab walk to the other line, hop like a bunny to the other line.

Remember that family activities don’t have to be work. Find a way to move that you enjoy. We all need a little recess in our day to stay healthy. 

"Additional Nutrition Topics"
                                                         
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