Topic 6 Recommendations to increase physical activity for children / Game samples
Recommendations To Increase Physical Activity In Children
The total of screen activities such as TV, cinema, video games, and computer use for entertainment purposes should not exceed 2 hours per day
Gifts that encourage physical activity should be chosen for children (skating, jumping rope, cycling)
Children should be allowed to participate in daily housework
Walking, which is safe and possible, should be preferred. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator should be recommended and encouraged
Children should be encouraged to engage in outdoor activities before homework and after school. Children should be allowed to play outside
Recreation opportunities of the place should be investigated
In cases where it is necessary to stay home, such as during the COVID -19 pandemic, children can be encouraged with online videos to engage in sports activities, dance activities, or creative activities such as making action movies at home and creating obstacle courses with household items
Instead of watching TV or playing games on the computer, meals should be eaten with the family
Meals should be planned and food choices made in advance
Fast-food and sugary drinks should not be kept at home
No food should ever be used as a reward
Creative games that teach children about healthy and unhealthy foods can be played
The whole family should adopt an active lifestyle (for example, preferring to walk in public transport, park the car a little further from the workplace)
Parents should also set an example for the child by doing regular physical activities suitable for their age and body characteristics. In this respect, pieces of training can be given to improve the health literacy of parents
It should not be forgotten that the activities should be fun and oriented towards the child’s interests for the child to want to do a physical activity the next day
It should not be forgotten that the earlier the physical activity habit is instilled in children, the stronger the foundation for an active lifestyle can be created
It is possible to go as a family to places where young people can be active, such as parks, baseball, football or basketball fields
Game Examples
Children form a circle. To start the game, one of the children becomes “it”. Whoever is “it” tosses the ball into the air by saying the name of one of his/her friends. If the named child catches the ball in the air while the ball is falling to the ground, he throws the ball into the air again by saying someone else’s name. The child who could not keep the ball in the air when his/her name was called, yells “Stop!”. Runaway children are supposed to freeze wherever they are the moment they hear the word “Stop!”. In this case, “it” tries to hit one of his/her friends with the ball. The hit child loses one point and becomes “it”. The child who is hit three times is given a name. The game continues until the last unnamed child remains
Children are divided into two equal groups. The group that will start the game is determined. The “it” group is lined up at a certain distance from each other. The other group is located in the middle. While the “it” group is throwing the ball to each other, the group in the middle tries to avoid the ball and not to touch the ball. Whoever touches the ball is out. They keep hitting the ball until there are no children left in the middle. When all players are hit, the other group enters the middle
A rectangle is drawn in the garden as a playground. This is called a “fishing net”. One of the children is chosen as “it”. Whoever is “it” becomes the “fisherman” and waits in the corner of the fishing net. Other children become “fish” and wander around the net. They enter and exit the fishing net whenever they wish, trying not to be caught. The fisherman tries to catch the fish that enter the net. He/she watches for a moment when as many fish as possible enter the net. He/she yells “Stop!” or “I got it” whenever he/she wants. When the fisherman shouts, all the fish in the net stay where they are. Thus, the fish are caught. The fisherman counts the fish, tells his/her friends the number, and gets rid of the position of being “it.” The caught fish choose again who becomes “it”. The newly chosen “it” becomes a fisherman. So the game goes on. At the end of the game, the girl/boy who caught the most fish is called “chief,” and he/she is applauded
A music is chosen for the game. Every child has a place. Whoever is “it” waits in the middle. The teacher or the person running the game starts the music and makes children walk, dance, slide, etc. Meanwhile, the music is suddenly stopped. Each child tries to sit down. Whoever is “it” tries to get a place for himself/herself while they are sitting. The one who cannot take a seat is the new tagged person.
Children are divided into groups according to the number of classes. Children in the group form a circle holding hands. They turn and sing the following song. At the end of the song, each group is given a ball. Children take turns trying to pass the ball (rolling) through the line drawn at a certain distance. The child who passes the ball goes behind the line and takes the shape of the moon. At the end of the game, all children have formed the moon shape, and all children are given a moon picture card.
A person is tagged “it” from among the children. Around whoever is “it,” other children are constantly running around shouting, “I’m low, I’m low…” and clapping their hands. The child tagged tries to catch one of the children in the lower level. On the other hand, children are constantly moving from place to place, trying not to be caught. Just when “it” is about to catch up, the children start to shout “I’m high, I’m high…” by going to a higher level from where they are. When his/her friends are high, “it” can’t catch them. If they catch them while on the ground, the friend he/she caught becomes the new “it,” and the game continues in this way.
Children form a large circle. A person is tagged “it” in this circle. The ball is given to the child in the circle. When the teacher or the person who manages the game gives the “start” command, the person holding the ball throws and passes the ball to his/her friends in the circle. Meanwhile, whoever is “it” tries to touch the person that has the ball in his/her hand. While the ball is in his/her hand, the person touched by “it” is replaced by him/her.
The “it” and a child who catches him/her are chosen. The other children also scatter arm in arm in pairs. When the kidnapped kid takes the arm of one of his friends in pairs, the kid on the other arm becomes “it” and starts to run away. The game thus continues by alternating the pairs who enter the arm.