Build your physical skills while
having fun
Total Time Needed:
30 Minutes or less
The hula hoop may have had its
heyday in the 1950s, but thanks to renewed interest from fitness-focused
families, hooping is hip again. Fans note that the low-impact sport strengthens
core muscles, fosters coordination, and best of all, is fun. To get you started,
here are some tips from Beth Morey, a teacher and kids' hooping instructor from
Missoula, Montana.
Instructions
1.
Choose the
right hoop. Bigger and heavier are better for
beginners. A good rule of thumb: when held perpendicular to the ground, the hoop
should come up to at least the user's belly button. Also look for a heavier
hoop made from 3/4-inch tubing (or make you r own — see our tip below).
2. Find the
rhythm. Contrary to popular belief, you don't move your hips in a circle to
keep a hoop spinning. It's actually a rocking motion. (A)
3. Stand with your
feet hip-width apart and one foot slightly in front of the other. Hold the hoop
and practice rocking your hips from front to back. Alternatively, stand with
your feet parallel and rock your hips from side to side. (B)
4. Stand with the
hoop resting against your lower back and pulled slightly toward the back foot.
(C) Rock out: quickly whip the hoop in the direction of your front foot while
rocking your hips.
5.
Listen to
music. Hooping is rhythmic in nature, so
playing music with a moderately fast beat can help new hoopers master the
movement.
6.
Take a
break. If your hoop is spending more time
around your ankles than your hips, try hand-hooping instead: spin the hoop
around your hand horizontally overhead or in a vertical position at your side.
Tips:
Do it yourself: Hoops are widely available at major
retailers and sporting goods stores, but for a durable hoop with a customized
fit, try making your own.
First Night Flashlight Limbo
In this lights-out version of a
classic party game, the object is to avoid the beam of the flashlight.
What You Need
·
2 flashlights
Instructions
1.
Clear a floor space and turn off the
lights.
2.
Two kids, each holding a flashlight,
stand a few feet apart, turn on the flashlights, and point them at each other
to create a level beam of light for the others to limbo under.
Penguin Shuffle
Here's an amusing indoor race that
challenges kids' balancing skills, penguin style.
What You Need
·
Beanbag or Hacky Sack-style footbag
Instructions
1.
Have the children stand side by side
with their "eggs" (beanbags or Hacky Sack-style footbags) on top of
their feet.
2.
Players try to shuffle across the
room without dropping their "eggs." The first one to succeed wins.
Penny Spoon Race
This challenge may sound simple, but it's a tricky test of grace and speed.
Penny Spoon Race
This challenge may sound simple, but it's a tricky test of grace and speed.
What You Need
·
Bowl of pennies
·
Large spoons
Instructions
1.
Setup: Mark the start and finish lines. Count the number of
pennies it takes to fill a spoon, and place that many pennies per player in a
bowl.
2.
Playing
the Game: Each player gets a spoon and fills
it with the specified amount of pennies. After the referee calls "Ready,
Set, Go!" players race toward the finish line. If a penny falls from a
spoon, the player has to stop, pick up the coin, and put it back onto the spoon
before continuing. The first player to cross the finish line with a full spoon
wins.
If there are a lot of racers, divide them into heats and have a race between the winners to determine the champion.
If there are a lot of racers, divide them into heats and have a race between the winners to determine the champion.
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