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Warm Up Games For Kids
Something a little different today…… Today I am going give you some great, fun and highly inclusive warm up games for kids. I’ve been ‘ummin and ‘aaahhin’ about this for some time now but I’ve finally come to the decision I’m going to add a kids section to the site. The main reason for the ’ummin and ‘aaahhin’ was not because I didn’t want to do it, but rather I wasn’t sure whether to build it on this site or on another domain all together. But I’ve come to the decision to broaden the reach of this site and see how it goes. Little bit About Me….. For those of you that know me, you should know by now I have been teaching kids for the past 7 years. I have coached kids all sorts of sports and fitness, and the main thing it comes down to in the end is….FUN! Every session, whether its football, basketball, hockey cricket, baseball or any sports and fitness session should be fun. I’m always trying to think up new sessions or new ways of teaching the kids, whether it’s warm up games for the kids, a new way to demonstrate something, or even another way to get the less confident kids more involved.
Childhood Obesity
Now we all know that the bigger nations in the world are suffering from a massive childhood obesity crisis, and we all know that children are less active today than they were 20 years ago. There are many reasons why this has happened, some of which include; Video Games TV Computers ‘Nice’ shiny marketing campaigns But, sitting down and talking about why this has happened isn’t going to solve the problem. Too many times I’ve heard people waffling on about the ‘whys’ and the ‘hows’ and the ‘back in my days’, and quite frankly I’m getting a bit sick and tired of it! Less Talking……More Action! When I plan for any type of sports or fitness session, I break it down into three main parts; Warm Up Games (Normal involves big group games and raises heart rate) Main Session (Teaching the basics of fitness or a specific sport) End of Session Game (Normally inline with what has been taught during the session) Nothing to complicated, remember I am not trying to nurture the next David Beckham. My job as a coach in a school and in the local area means I must achieve at least these four things; Make sure the basics are taught and understood Each child takes something away from the session Session is all inclusive (Every child is involved and active) and finally, I must make sure the session is FUN! So today I am going to give you 2 of my warm up games for kids. These games require very little equipment and are chosen based on the feedback from the kids I work with. These warm up games can be adapted to meet the need of any child, no matter their age or ability.
Kids Warm Up Game 1:
Name: Fox Tails Equipment Needed: Bibs Number of Children: Any (Although the more kids involved the easier it is to hit that ‘FUN Factor’ zone) Instructions: Give every child one bib each. They must tuck this bib into their pockets or the back of their trousers. Aim: The aim of the game is to run round and take a bib from another child, while still ‘protecting their own bib. I normally do a countdown from 3, and on GO! the game starts. Each game usually lasts for 1-2 minutes, with a countdown from 10 at the end. Special Instructions: Kids always like to think round the rules, so if you don’t arm yourself with prior knowledge you’l get caught out! With this game there are normally three rules I have in place; Once you have taken a bib from someone, you are not allowed to take another bib until you have tucked the one you already have in the back of your trousers
You are not allowed to run round with the bib in your hand (similar to the one above) You are not allowed to hold your bib, stopping anyone else from taking it TIP: I would give them one of these rules to start with. Then through the progression stage I would introduce another rule.
Progression/Regression When delivering this warm up game to the kids, I split it into three parts. The first game you are only allowed to take one bib at a time from another child. Second game same rules apply, BUT I now introduce a rule (above) Third game, you are allowed to take as many bibs as you can in one swipe (+ introduce a rule) Kids Warm Up Game 2: Name: Stuck In The Mud Equipment Needed: Bibs Number of Children: Same as Above Instructions: Depending on the size of the class, I normally have 2 children who will be my ‘Mud Monsters’. These two players will be ‘it’. Aim: On the ‘GO!’ signal the mud monster must run round and tag as many people as they can. Once a person has been tagged the must stand there with there legs closed and there arm out wide. To be unstuck and back in the game, another child has to run underneath the arm of the child that’s ‘stuck in the mud’ Special Instructions: None Progression/Regression Change the players who are the ‘Mud Monsters’ Over the years working with kids of all ages I have built up a huge portfolio of sessions plans, which include warm up games. These are just 2 games of many. So if you work with kids, or have a few of your own then these games will defiantly come in use! That’s all for now! Chris