Here are 10 energizing activities for kids aged 7-13 that can be done indoors or outdoors. Each activity includes materials needed and directions.
1. Obstacle Course
Materials Needed: Cones, ropes, hula hoops, and balls.
Directions: Set up an obstacle course using the materials. Kids can crawl under ropes, jump over cones, and weave through hula hoops. Time each child as they complete the course, and encourage them to beat their own time.
2. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Materials Needed: Scavenger hunt list (create a list of items to find in nature such as leaves, rocks, flowers), bags for collecting.
Directions: Create a list of items for children to find outdoors. Give each child a bag and set a time limit. The child or team who finds the most items wins.
3. Dance Party
Materials Needed: A music player with upbeat songs and a spacious area to dance.
Directions: Create a playlist of high-energy songs. Let the kids dance freely or teach them simple dance moves. Consider incorporating freeze dance (music stops and kids freeze when it plays).
4. Balloon Volleyball
Materials Needed: Balloons, string or tape (to create a net), and a spacious area.
Directions: Set up an area for volleyball using a string or tape as a net. Kids hit a balloon back and forth over the net. Rules can be made similar to volleyball, or you can just play for fun.
5. Relay Races
Materials Needed: Spoons, eggs (or small balls), and cones/markers for the race course.
Directions: Divide kids into teams. Each team has to balance an egg (or small ball) on a spoon while running to a marker and back. The next teammate then goes. The team that finishes first wins.
6. DIY Kite Making
Materials Needed: Plastic bags, string, scissors, and straws or wooden dowels.
Directions: Have kids design and build their own kites using plastic bags and straws or dowels. Once completed, go outside and test flight their kites.
7. Jump Rope Challenge
Materials Needed: Jump ropes.
Directions: Set up a challenge where kids try to jump rope for a certain duration or do as many skips as possible within a time limit. Encourage different styles—double unders, crisscrossed arms, etc.
8. Fitness Bingo
Materials Needed: Bingo cards with various exercises (like jumping jacks, squats, or high knees) and markers.
Directions: Create bingo cards with different fitness activities in each square. Kids complete the exercises to mark off their cards, and the first to get a bingo wins a small prize.
9. Yoga Freeze
Materials Needed: Yoga mats (optional), yoga pose cards.
Directions: Play music and let kids flow through some yoga poses. When the music stops, they must freeze in the last pose they were doing until the music starts again.
10. Water Balloon Toss
Materials Needed: Water balloons.
Directions: Pair up the kids and have them stand a short distance apart. They toss a water balloon back and forth, taking a step back after each successful catch. The last pair with an unbroken balloon wins.
These activities are designed to be fun, promote physical activity, and can be modified to fit different spaces and materials! Enjoy the energy!