To keep us healthy and strong, our bodies need exercise. If this is true, then why do so many people not exercise and stay indoors most of the time? Is it because they think exercise is boring? Or maybe they don’t know how to? No matter the reason, everyone should get up and get to it!  Exercising can be super fun and healthy at the same time. You do not have to run twenty miles on a treadmill or lift weights. All you have to do is play a fun game to exercise. Below is a list of great games to play that will surely entertain you and your friends:

1)Tag- Why not play a simple game of tag? To start the game, designate someone as “IT” who will chase the other players. If the “IT” person tags a player, that player becomes “IT” and so on. Tag is fun and can be played many different ways and all the while you are exercising! Let your imagination make up the rules!!!!

2) Basketball Horse- “Horse” is a game that involves basketball and cool trick shots. To play Horse, one player at a time makes up a fancy move or shot which the other players must copy. For example, the first player would make a free-throw, or dribble all the way around the court with one hand. The other players must duplicate and if someone is unable to complete your course, that person receives the first letter of the word horse, ”H”. As the game continues, each player that cannot complete something continues to get letters one at a time to spell out the word “Horse”. If someone gets all five letters, then they are out of the game. The person with the least letters at the end wins! This is a very exciting game to play with friends!  Plus,  you are exercising!

3) Bicycle Relays- In this game, you will need some kind of bike or scooter for every player. Line up at a certain place and make up a course. An example would be riding three times around the parking lot. Race to complete the course and see who gets there first to win! Bicycles are a great exercise tool because they are fun to ride and work out your legs and arms together.

4) Wipeout:Home Edition- Like the TV show called “Wipeout,” make up courses to play this game. You do not need professional equipment or water like on TV to play this. All you have to do is create courses around your house or in your yard. Each player must perform others’ courses to stay in the game. An sample course would be: Run around the tree, under the branch, jump over the bucket, and touch the broom to stop the timer (outdoor). Or:  Walk around the room, go up the stairs, lightly kick the soccer ball into the indoor net, and jump on the piece of paper to complete the course (indoor). This game requires creativity and remember that safety is always first!

5)Jump Rope- Jump Rope is a classic game that is fun in many different ways. You can either have two spinners and one jumper, or tie one end to a pole and spin the other end for more jumpers. As the jumper jumps, sing fun songs that test their skill. You can also wiggle the rope on the floor and have people jump over it (This is called “Snake”) Like Tag, Jump Rope requires your imagination to think of fun songs and ways to play!

All of these games are entertaining and easy to play. So stop reading, temporarily :), and go outside to try one! You will soon see how fun exercising can be when you make it a game! What are you waiting for? Enjoy and Stay Healthy!!!