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These are 8 exercises that kids can do at home to stay active - and how to keep them motivated

Keeping kids active while they’re stuck at home during the UK lockdown can be a challenge.

If you’re looking for inspiration for fun exercises that kids can do at home to keep fit, here are eight ideas that all the family can get involved in.

Dancing

These are 8 exercises that kids can do at home to stay active - and how to keep them motivated

Dancing is a fun and invigorating way for kids to exercise, and can help them improve their balance and coordination.

YouTube has a wide range of dance videos available for children, suitable for kids of different ages, to suit a variety of needs and requirements.

From Baby Shark - Kids Dance Version to Zumba Kids, there’s plenty of dance videos for kids to get involved with.

Swap a ball with a balloon

If you want to keep valuable or fragile items in the house safe, but make sure the kids are staying active, then swap a ball for a balloon.

Better.org.uk explains that, “By swapping balls for balloons, children can have a go at keeping the balloon in the air for as long as possible. While safer for indoor play than a ball, we’d suggest securing your lamps and breakables just in case.”

Children can also kick the balloon around and do a variety of other exercises instead of a ball.

Yoga

Yoga helps kids - and adults alike - increase fitness and flexibility. It’s also great for anxious children who need to relax.

There are a variety of styles of yoga that you can try, with varying levels of difficulty but they all usually involve holding poses, meditation and controlled breathing.

There are a variety of great yoga videos for kids online, such as Cosmic Kids Yoga.

Leg/body stretch

Simple stretching exercises can be a really useful way of keeping children’s bodies moving - and it’s good to stretch before and after doing any other form of exercise too.

How to do it:

Sit with the back straight

Stretch both the legs as wide as comfortable

Hold the right knee with the right hand

Lift the left hand to the top of the head and lean towards the right

While leaning towards the right, stretch the left part of the body as much as you comfortably can

Keep breathing normally

Repeat it on the other side

Overhead shoulder stretch

8 kids exercises at home: easy online workouts children can do indoors - and how to motivate them