Fit ball activity for classrooms or clubs
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EmailIt is the new year and many people have a new year’s resolution to stay fit. Sometimes it is hard to find time or ideas to keep you motivated and wanting to work out. Discover a fun hands-on activity to do with kids or adults to get them moving.
It is recommend by the American Academy of Pediatrics that youth six years old and older should have 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Kids may be getting some of the activity during school, but others may have limited time for being physically active. The Center for Disease Control recommends adults get 2 hours and 30 minutes of intense to moderate activity each week.
Kayla Colgrove, Extension Educator from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently posted a DIY FitBall: A Fun Fitness Activity. This activity is a quick and easy way to get moving in a classroom or in a group setting. This would be a great activity for youth or adults to do and help them reach their recommended amount of physical activity.
Some prep work needs to take place before you get started with a group. First, you will need to purchase a few beach balls and blow them up. Then, you will need to write on them with a permanent maker. She recommends writing three exercises on each panel. For example, the yellow panel could say: 5 squats, 10 toe touches, 10 arm circles. You would complete this process with all the color panels on the beach ball. Music is also important in this activity and having a disc jockey or music list ahead of time is helpful.
The group of youth will need to be in a circle. When they hear the music play, they pass the ball around the circle. Once the music stops, the person holding the ball will read the exercise that is closest to their right thumb. Everyone in the circle will do the exercise(s). Once complete and the music starts again, they will continue throwing the ball around and stop again once the music stops.
This activity is a great way to get kids and adults up and moving.
Michigan 4-H has many other fun activity and ideas to keep and adults healthy and moving. Visit your local Michigan State University Extension office to learn more about getting involved in 4-H or becoming healthy.
