As Omaha Public School students are learning from home this school year, there are many things these children are missing out on; physical activity being a big one. All children should be at least getting 60 minutes of physical activity each day, which can be hard when they are at home in front of screens all day. Children are not playing at recess, or during physical education class since they are learning remotely, which makes it important for parents to take it among themselves to make sure their children are staying active.
Here are the best ways to make sure your children are staying active during remote learning!
Get outside
While kids are inside learning all day, it’s important to give them the opportunity to go play outside. Students are used to recess when they are at school, and it is something many look forward to throughout the day. As parents, you should try to implement “recess” into their online learning, by dedicating time for your kids to get outside and play. Here are some great outdoor activities kids can do each day!
- Go for a walk
- Ride a bike or scooter
- Practice sports such as soccer and basketball
- Go for a jog or run around the block
Create obstacle courses
Another fun and easy way for kids to get active at home are by making up obstacle courses for them to go through. These obstacle courses could include jumping over and running through certain obstacles. When creating these obstacles, parents can draw on a picture card how the children can complete the station, which makes it educational and helps keep children engaged. This can be done both inside and outside of your home!
These obstacle courses can be as complex as you want, or they could be as simple as running up and down the stairs. Have fun with it and be creative!
Limit screen time
Lastly, while your children are studying and learning from home every day, it’s important to limit the time they are sitting down and looking at a screen. Whether it’s a tablet, phone, or television, screens can become very distracting while trying to learn, and do not promote healthy and physical activity. Parents should set rules to determine how long their children can watch TV, play video games and do other activities that involve looking at a screen. Finding a balance between learning, being active and screen time outside of class will help your children become more focused, more healthy and more successful in their classes.
At DREAM, we offer programs to help young children develop and practice important life skills that will help them as they grow. The health and wellness of our students is our top priority. For more information on our after school and mentoring programs, visit our website today!
