King of The Castle
Younger children often struggle with complicated outdoor games like rounders or basketball that have many rules to remember and aren’t designed for their short attention spans and small bodies. Give them confidence in their bodies and a lot of fun by teaching them to play King of the Castle.
Set some rules
It’s good to make a rule that they have to have one foot on the ground at all times, which prevents them climbing trees or belly flopping on their siblings! Another good rule is that you won’t be a referee – let them resolve problems themselves if you can. Finally make a rule that giggling is good – a belly laugh is as good a form of exercise as any other.
Prepare the ground
An old air bed, or a pile of cushions, or even a mattress, dragged out onto the lawn, adds a whole new dimension to this simple game. Ensure children remove shoes and any other sharp or hard items before beginning to play.
Supervise without interfering
School games often focus on health and safety issues rather than fun, which means letting your little ones relax and enjoy themselves under your supervision can give them a huge confidence boost – it doesn’t just provide them with exercise, it gives them a chance to try and develop strategies for being the winner.
Refresh
Small children dehydrate easily. Provide cartons of fruit juice and regular amounts of finger food like small sandwiches, and tiny portions of yoghurt or fromage frais, or strawberries or orange slices. This will give them a healthy meal alongside their fitness boost.