How to Find Good Exercises for Your Kids to Do Online

It's common to have some difficulty getting your kids to exercise, especially if they’re stuck at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Thankfully, there are plenty of online exercise resources for children of all ages and interests. Once you pin down your kids’ interests and fitness needs, you can choose fun, engaging videos and sites to keep them active at home.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Kids under Age 5

1. Encourage toddlers and young kids to be active for at least 3 hours. Note that kids under the age of 5 have a lot of energy to burn, and need to be active and play throughout the day. Thankfully, simple exercises like dancing or hopping around qualify as exercise for your young child, as long as they keep active.^[1]
   
   • For instance, toddlers and young children can get exercise through simple activities, like dancing, bouncing or skipping around, and playing basic games, like tag or hide-and-seek.
2. Choose simple activities that appeal to toddlers and young kids. Keep in mind that little ones thrive with simple activities that allow them to move around freely, like a game of tag, hopping around, or tossing a ball back and forth. Note that really young kids don’t have the understanding or attention span needed for most group activities, like soccer, baseball, and other sports.^[2]
   
   • For instance, a simple activity, like dancing around the room, would be better for your kid than trying to teach them tennis or basketball.
   • If you can make exercise more fun, your kids will be more motivated to be active.^[3]
3. Put on a themed workout video to keep your kids moving. Search online for active, kid-themed workouts with a fun theme, like Ninjas or special cartoon characters. Invite your little ones to move and groove along with the videos, which will help them get some valuable exercise.^[4]
   
   • For instance, NinjaZone MoveIt Mornings and Get Moving with Disney Family are great options to consider.
4. Queue up some engaging, energetic exercise videos for young kids. Search for popular YouTube channels and other independent exercise programs geared towards really young kids. Look for videos and series that involve creative storytelling, fun movements, and musical numbers that will really engage your little ones.^[5]
   
   • Cosmic Kids Yoga, Movement for Kids with Jaime, Pancake Manor, Fitness Blender, and Go Noodle: Good Energy are great options to consider for this.
5. Unwind with guided yoga classes for your young ones. Invite your kids to stretch out and follow along with some simple yoga moves. If needed, help your kids follow the guided video so they can follow along.^[6]
   
   • For instance, Well Soul Fitness FriYay Classes host special yoga classes on Monday.
6. Purchase online classes geared toward simple, energetic activities. Search online for simple, active workouts that your kid can follow along with. Keep in mind that many of these classes may not be a great option for toddlers, but could be an option for a 4 or 5-year old child. Try to get a feel for what sorts of activities your child is into, like martial arts or ballet, before purchasing any subscriptions.^[7]
   
   • For instance, Activity Hero is a great place to start.

[Edit]Elementary, Middle, and High School Kids

1. Remind kids between ages 5 and 18 to get 1 hour of exercise each day. Keep in mind that grade-school kids and teenagers don’t need quite as much daily exercise as toddlers, though they still need to stay active throughout the day. Thankfully, older kids can handle more complex sports and hobbies.^[8]
   
   • For instance, older kids can more seriously pursue different hobbies and sports, like ballet, karate, and gymnastics.
   • Try to create a routine where you get exercise at about the same time each day. For instance, if you want your kids to work out in the morning, try laying out their exercise clothes at night before they go to bed.^[9]
2. Search for fitness videos geared toward your child's age. Look for videos and programs that relate to more specific exercises. Pick out exercise videos that teach your kids specific techniques, like squats and planks, or programs that incorporate engaging music and dance sequences. Play different videos and see if any of them really resonate with your kids.^[10]
   
   • Programs and videos like Family Fitness with Wes, Double Time, P.E. with Joe, Obé Fitness Kids, Alo Yoga Kids Yoga & Meditation, and Shaun T’s Fit Kids Club “Cool Moves” are all nice choices to consider.
3. Help your athletic kids stay in shape with conditioning videos. Look for videos that will help your kids make the most of their downtime, even if they’re stuck at home. Specific websites and organizations cater to young athletes, providing exercises and workouts that help build your child’s strength and stamina.^[11]
   
   • ActiveKids.com, StandUp Kids, Tabata Workout from HASfit, and videos from the International Youth Conditioning Association are great resources to check out.
4. Sign your kids up for free fitness classes. Search online for a variety of different sports classes and other activities, ranging from ballet class to sports-specific training videos. Look for websites or programs that archive their videos, so you can view them at a later time.^[12]
   
   • For instance, Get Moving with Disney Family archives their videos, as do GO with YOYO and Starcoach.
5. Purchase online classes for specific sports and physical activities. Think about what your kids are really interested in—are they hoping to learn a specific sport or activity? Look for online classes that help kids learn the ropes of certain activities, like ballet, martial arts, or other activities. Keep in mind that many of these classes cost money, depending on the program or activity you’re signing up for.^[13]
   
   • Activity Hero is a company that offers a large variety of online sports classes.
   • Look up specific online classes in a search engine and see what you come up with.

[Edit]Tips

• Don’t feel like your kids need to meet their daily exercise quota all at once, especially if your household has a busy schedule. Instead, encourage your children to break up their exercise into smaller, more manageable chunks.^[14]
• Look for other ways to work activity into your day, as well. For instance, you might take the stairs instead of the elevator, or you might park farther away from the door to get in a few more steps.^[15]

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-under-five-years/
2. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/active-kids.html
3. ↑ [v161341_b01]. 19 March 2020.
4. ↑ https://mommypoppins.com/new-york-city-kids/classes-enrichment/free-online-virtual-kids-family-fitness-classes-activities
5. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/best-kids-exercise-videos/
6. ↑ https://mommypoppins.com/new-york-city-kids/classes-enrichment/free-online-virtual-kids-family-fitness-classes-activities
7. ↑ https://nymag.com/strategist/article/the-best-online-classes-for-kids.html
8. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-children-and-young-people/
9. ↑ [v161341_b01]. 19 March 2020.
10. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/best-kids-exercise-videos/
11. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/best-kids-exercise-videos/
12. ↑ https://mommypoppins.com/new-york-city-kids/classes-enrichment/free-online-virtual-kids-family-fitness-classes-activities
13. ↑ https://nymag.com/strategist/article/the-best-online-classes-for-kids.html
14. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/fitness/art-20045099
15. ↑ [v161341_b01]. 19 March 2020.