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Homeschool PE: 5 Easy Ways to Get Your Family Moving

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Written by Katheryn Foudray from The Healthy and Fit Homeschool Mom

Once the school year gets into full swing, it can be difficult to squeeze everything in – especially active time as a family. Leading a sedentary lifestyle, however, isn’t healthy either physically or mentally. Today, I’ve invited Katheryn Foudray, from The Healthy and Fit Homeschool Mom, to share some ideas for Homeschool PE and enjoying a more active lifestyle as a family.

Simple ideas to encouage active family fun.

As a busy homeschool mom to five girls, ages two to eleven, I am always looking for ways to get more hours out of my day.  Between school, errands, cleaning, cooking, church activities, time with husband, and a good night’s sleep, I need all the help I can get.

I have been enjoying various forms of physical activity myself for many years.  It is easy for me to get up and workout or go for a walk.  The challenge comes when I need to include my entire family.  I am home all day with my girls, I want them to be healthy and active as well.  I needed some creative ways to get them to love being outside and playing.

Here are 5 ways you can get your whole family moving:

SCHEDULE IT

It doesn’t need to take a lot of time.  But fresh air and movement does the body and mind good.  Getting outside before hitting the books is a great way to get the blood flowing and will enhance the learning experience.  Setting time in our days to be outside is a great way to be together and enjoy each other’s company.  I know for me, if it is scheduled, chances are it will get done.

OBSTACLE COURSES

One of the ways I keep my girls busy and moving is setting up obstacle courses.  It doesn’t have to be expensive.  The dollar store has many things that you can use.  Hula hoops, cones, pool noodles, even some painters tape.  Set up your course so they have to run, crawl and hop.  I love that this is a flexible activity that can be used not only outdoors, but also indoors on those cold, rainy winter days.

TIMED RACES

I don’t know about you, but laundry is always something that has to be done. Between finding the lost socks that the dryer ate and finding hidden treasures under the sink in the bathrooms.  You know, the lost underwear, jean shorts, etc. because no one wanted to run them to the laundry.

So, I decided to set time races to get the girls moving inside.  I have races to gather laundry, put laundry away, how many weeds can they pull.  I also will go to the park and have them run the basketball court or tennis courts.  They love it.  Sometimes at the end I will put a little bite size piece of candy for them to race for.  We are always laughing in the end.

GOOD OLD FASHIONED TAG

I never realized what a great workout tag can be.  The running, chasing, touching, most of the time we all wind up on the grass laughing.  But I have to tell you, we are all breathing heavy afterward.  Though I don’t recommend this one inside, it sure is fun at the park or in the backyard.

SOCCER

Soccer balls can be picked up fairly inexpensively.  We go to Play It Again Sports and for about $5 can get a soccer ball.  I love it because we can either kick the ball back and forth to each other.  Stand in a circle and everyone gets turn.  Better yet, we set up the cones and they have to dribble the ball through and around the cones.

Getting outside doesn’t have to be expensive or take a lot of time.  The memories that you are creating with your children will last a lifetime.  You will instill in them healthy habits that they will pass onto their children.

Katheryn Foudray is a homeschooling mom of five daughters, ages 2-11. She and her husband Bret live in Sahuarita. Join Katheryn online at The Healthy and Fit Homeschool Mom for daily workouts that are under 30 minutes and will leave you feeling great. She also shares her real life homeschool adventures that will leave you laughing and encouraged.

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This article was written by a Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers guest author. See the author's full bio in the body of the post.

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3 Comments

  1. It’s important to get the kids moving. I have mine in recreational sports. But we also have breaks for a 5 min jumping jack, push up, and run in place session. Keeps the brain moving.

    1. I can’t take credit this time, but I agree that Katheryn has some great ideas that are easy to put into practice. 🙂

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