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The Wacky Walk Warm-Up: This isn't a race against the clock; just a fun five minute warm-up. Here are our ideas... but you're a kid, so you can make up your own wacky walk, too.
- Crab Crawl - walk on hands and feet
- Duck Walk - point toes outward
- High-Stepping - exaggerated high steps
- Knock Kneed - hold knees together, spread feet apart
- Moon Walk - ala Michael Jackson
- Pigeon-Toed - point toes inward
- Wobbly Gestures - bend, twist body with hands flailing
Badminton: SO early training for Olympic tennis, right?
Croquet: Just like curling, croquet takes skill, timing, and super aim to knock your opponents ball or puck out of the way.
Dodge Ball: Killer training for boxing, tennis, and other sports for quick reflexes and action.
Frisbee: Great start for the aspiring discus thrower.
Miniature Golf: Build a golf green! Sink a plastic cup (make holes for drainage); plant a tree or two; make a sand pit, shallow pond, whatever you fancy. Stumped for ideas? Note for Mom and Dad: The International Olympic Committee still recognizes golf as a sport even though it's no longer on the schedule.
Rock Climb: Get a rock climbing wall or ramp or create an obstacle course in your backyard (climb over large rocks, picnic tables, under chairs, around trees, through a sprinkler, etc.) Combine climbing with two other events for a Triathlon. (Yep, you're gonna need parental help!)
Rope Events:
- Jump Rope - Endurance here we come! (Good footwork training for boxing and tennis.)
- Tug Of War - Awesome for team spirit and building strength in arms and legs (weight lifting).
Running Game: The running race can take on different forms. Let's talk about the simple form of the running race which exercises the whole body – a physical activity that's fun and where all kids participate at the same time using only their bodies – no bicycles, carts, etc.; simply, the running race.
- This is a basic fun activity that all kids are familiar with. The kids gather at the starting line in the backyard and run the mini Olympic running race around the block. Accompanied by two adults on bikes, one in the front and the other at the back to avoid accidents. The rules of the game are simple. The first one to complete the running race around the block is the winner
- Variety comes in the location of the running race
- Take the kids to a parking lot that is mostly vacant on Saturdays or Sundays. Go in two or three cars and park them 25' - 50' apart. Have them do the running race in a figure eight pattern around the cars like they do in barrel racing. The number of laps will depend on the spread of the cars and age of the children.
- Or go to a park playground and tie ribbons around trees to mark a pathway for the runners. Have adults stationed along the path for safety while the children run laps.
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