How to Help Your Kids Burn Off Extra Energy Through Active Play

 

As a parent, you know that kids seem to have boundless energy. While all that exuberance is part of being a child, it can become an issue when your kids have trouble sitting still, lack focus, or act out. Children build up energy and need productive outlets to channel it. If it has nowhere to go, that pent-up energy can manifest as restlessness, distractibility, and behavioural problems. 

The Benefits of Active Play

Providing your kids with plenty of opportunities for vigorous play allows them to burn off steam so they can settle down and focus when it’s time for less active tasks like schoolwork. Active play also helps promote kids’ healthy development. It builds strength in their muscles and bones, develops motor skills and coordination, maintains a healthy body weight, and reduces stress and anxiety levels.

Making physical activity a regular part of your children’s day will benefit them now and for the rest of their lives. There are many fun ways to get your kids moving more at home and incorporate physical activity into your family’s lifestyle.

Outdoor Play

Outdoor play time is an easy way to let kids burn energy. Weather permitting, send them outside for open-ended play in the yard, at a playground, or park. Having balls, frisbees, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, jump ropes and other active toys on hand will fuel their imaginations and inspire running, jumping, climbing and other energetic play. Team sports like soccer, basketball, or tag are also great outdoor activities for kids. If you have the space, set up permanent outdoor play equipment like a swing set, trampoline, or climbing structure. A basketball hoop or hockey net can also inspire backyard athletics.

Indoor Play

On rainy days or when you are stuck inside, encourage kids to play active games indoors. Put on upbeat music for an impromptu family dance party. Build an indoor obstacle course with cushions, furniture, and toys they have to crawl through or jump over. Play classic games like Hide and Seek or Simon Says that require moving around. Have contests to see who can do the most jumping jacks, push-ups, or hula hoop twirls. Provide equipment like small indoor trampolines, tumble mats, foam balls to roll around, soft bowling pins, or nerf ball launchers so they can let loose even when they are stuck indoors due to bad weather. 

If you don’t have the right equipment at home, search for a local trampoline park. Use a search engine or search using hashtags like #jnspark. There’s bound to be at least one within easy reach. You can take the kids and join them or have a quiet coffee while they play. 

The goal is to give your kids plenty of opportunities to channel their energy through vigorous physical activity each day. This will help them focus and follow directions better when it's time to settle down. It also allows them to reap the many developmental, physical and mental health benefits of an active lifestyle. Encouraging a love of play and movement now builds healthy habits that last a lifetime.