Balance the beanbag

Try this for 10-15 minutes.

Balance a beanbag on your head while moving around in different ways- walk, run, skip, hop, jump or travel on the floor.

Try these actions while changing your speed from slow to fast. Move in a straight, curved or zigzag pathway. For an extra challenge try walking for five seconds while balancing the beanbag, stop for five seconds and stand on one leg. Repeat.

Ball Alley

Lay a skipping rope along a wall ( about two rulers away from the wall) to make an alley. Mark a starting line at the top of your alley. Kick a large ball from the starting line, aiming to keep the ball away from the wall and the skipping rope. Every time it gets through the alley safely you get a point.

Bounce Box

Play this game on your own or with a friend. You’ll need a beanbag and two empty boxes. Mark a starting line. Place the first box a giant step away from the line. Place the second box two giant steps away from the line. From the starting line aim to throw the beanbag into one of the boxes. Every time it lands in the first box you get five points. If it lands in the second box you get ten points. How many points can you get?

Bullseye

You will need a beanbag or sponge ball and a hoop for this game. Place the hoop on the ground. Take three giant steps away from the hoop. Now throw your bean bag and see if you can get it to land in the hoop. Every time it lands inside the hoop you get a Bullseye point. Try to make it harder by taking five giant steps away from the hoop. Can you still get the beanbag into the hoop?

Cat Sequence

Begin on all fours, with your hands below your shoulders and your knees below your hips. Let your belly drop down, smile and inhale deeply ( Happy Cat). As you exhale, round your spine upwards like an angry cat (Angry Cat). Inhale, flatten your back again. Reach your left hand forward, and your right foot back (aeroplane). Hold the balance for three breaths. Repeat on the opposite side. Try doing these movements on different orders to create your own sequence.

Compass Jumps

Mark out a compass on the ground with tape or chalk. Mark a square in the centre, leaving enough room for you to stand inside. Then jump from two feet, landing with two feet in the following directions.

1. Jump North and back to centre.
2. Jump Northeast and back to centre.
3. Jump East and back to centre.
4. Jump Southeast and back to centre.
5. Jump South and back to centre.
6. Jump Southwest and back to centre.
7. Jump West and back to centre.
8. Jump Northwest and back to centre.

Crab Walk

Try walking like a crab, moving sideways with your hands and feet. Try moving with two hands and two feet, with one hand and two feet, or with two hands and one foot. Can you do it faster?

Dancing Warrior Pose

Begin by standing up with your feet together. Bend your right knee, lifting your right foot up towards your bum. Reach back with your right hand and take a hold of your right foot. Reach your left hand straight out in front of you. Lift your right foot as high as you can. Repeat on the other side.

Donkey Pose

Begin by forming a triangle shape with your body, with your hands and feet on the floor and your bum high up in the air. Look behind you to make sure there is no one there, and gently lift one leg up high and straight towards the ceiling. Lower that leg gently and repeat on the other side.

Elephant Breath

Stand with your feet wide apart and your hands interlaced in front of your chest. Inhale through your nose, raising your arms high above your head like a trunk. Exhale through your mouth as you swing your hands down through your legs.

Feet Writing

Standing on one leg, use your foot to draw a big number 8 above the ground. Try not to look at your feet ( let your brain grow your feet). Then draw a capital T, E and W. Write your name and your age. Try some of your own words and use your other foot!

Frog Pose

Start by standing tall with your feet wider than your hips. Keep your back straight and lower down into a squat position, lifting your heels up off the ground and resting the balls of your feet. Place your hands on the ground in front of you.

In Your Stride

Head outside for this game- you’ll need some space! You’ll also need a beanbag or ball. Mark out a starting line. Begin by throwing the ball over-arm from a standing position. Where does the ball land?

Now run up to the line with your ball, taking three strides and throwing the ball as far as you can. How far can you get the ball now? Think about where you want the ball to land- did it land there?

Invisible seat

Stand with your back to the wall. Slide your back down and walk your feet out, as if you are on an invisible seat. Hold for two minutes, relax and rest for 30 seconds. Repeat. Can you sit for longer than two minutes?

Indoor/ Outdoor Bowling

Save up ten plastic bottles. Now find a hard, flat surface and create your own bowling alley.Fill the bottles a quarter full with water to add weight.Screw the tops on tightly and arrange the bottles in a triangle, like bowling pins. Any ball works as a bowling ball. Players have two tries to roll the ball down the alley and knock down the pins. Try a smaller ball to make it more difficult or stand further back.

Juggling

1. Throw the beanbag or ball in the air to about head- height with your right hand and catch it with your left hand. Repeat.
2. Pick up a second ball. Throw the first ball into the air with your right hand, pause for one second and throw the second ball with your left hand. Catch the first ball with your left hand and the second ball with your right hand. Try this a few times.
3. Now introduce a third ball. Hold two balls in your right hand and one in your left hand.
4. Your first two throws will be the same as when you had two balls. This time, when the second ball is coming down throw up the third ball.
5. Each ball should land in the opposite hand from where it started.
6. Now try jogging and juggling.

Kick Out

You’ll need a large ball, some space, and a grown- up for this game! Mark a starting line and place the ball down at it.Take a few strides back. Then run up and kick the ball as far as you can.

Move To Your Music

Choose your favourite song or piece of music. Make a sequence of four body movements to the music:

●      Begin by choosing a movement for your legs, for example step forward, step back.

●      Add in your arms, for example, hands on your hips, clap clap.

●      Think about adding a hop or skip.

●      Will you move forwards, backwards or sideways?

●      Practise your routine and then perform it for a grown-up at home.

Musical Sprints

Play musical sprints where you have space to run around. You can play it on your own or with others but you will need someone to stop the music. Put on your favourite music and jog slowly around. When the music stops sprint around the space until the music starts again. Once the music starts again, jog slowly around. Try this game for 10-15 minutes.

No Fall Ball

Play this with a partner. You’ll need a small ball and dice. Each partner takes turns throwing the dice. Just follow the instructions for how to pass the ball to one another. Pass the ball ten times for each throw of the dice

●      1= Pass with your strongest hand.

●      2= Pass with your other hand.

●      3= Turn and pass over your shoulder.

●      4= Balance on one leg and pass.

●      5= Pass the ball between your legs.

●      6= Pass with one hand behind your back.

One At A Time

You can play this game with a partner. One partner calls out a body part that you have to move. The trick is that you have to try to keep the rest of your body as still as possible, only moving one body part at a time. For example, you could make circles with your right arm, or raise your left leg up and down.

Pass It Up

You’ll need a ball for this game. You can play it with a partner or try it alone by placing your feet near a wall. You and your partner lie on your back with the soles of your feet touching. Take turns sitting up to pass the ball between you both. See how many times you can pass the ball between you in a minute.

Pass The Dance

Pick a song to dance with a partner. Create a dance move. Your partner then copies your move and adds their own dance move. Keep passing on the dance moves until you have created 4 dance moves altogether. Then dance away to the music.

Plank Pose

Begin on your hands and knees. Make sure your hands are directly below your shoulders and your knees are below your hips. Then take a big breath in and step your feet back behind you. Push your hands into the floor to keep your shoulders from dropping down. After a few breaths, come back down to your knees.

Puppy Tag

This is a fun game for three or more players. One person is the ‘tagger’. The other players run around and if they are tagged they freeze on the spot. Players can escape being tagged by lying on their backs with their hands and feet in the air like a playful puppy. After ten seconds, they have to start running again.

Robots And Ragdolls

You can play this game to music if you like. Travel around, moving in a controlled, rigid way like a robot. Move around to these actions- walking, running, hopping, skipping, jumping and turning. Now try the same actions as a floppy, flexible ragdoll. How does it feel different?

Shadow Dancing

Close the curtains in your room, turning out the main lights and turning on a lamp so that you can see your shadow on a wall. Make it as big as you can. Now turn on your favourite song and create a dance for you and your shadow. Include two twirls, two jumps and a balance. Spend 15 minutes creating your dance and then perform it for somebody in your family.

Shape Jumping

Try this outdoors where you will have some space. Use a skipping rope, twine or scarf to mark out a shape- like a square, pentagon or triangle. Practice moving around the shape jumping from corner to corner. Make sure to land on both feet. How well do you land? Now try it clapping your hands before you land.

Sit Stand Bounce

You will need a large ball, like a basketball, and a chair or something to sit on. Begin in a sitting position, bouncing your ball. When you’re ready, stand up, try to keep bouncing the ball without stopping. It’s tricky! Do this a few times and then try bouncing with your other hand.

Squat Walk

Begin in a squat position by placing your feet shoulder width apart and sitting down as if you’re sitting on an invisible stool. Keep your hands at elbow level. Travel like this, taking six steps. Carefully stand up and rest for 30 seconds.

Spotting Turns

Stand still with your hands by your side and keeping your feet close together. Slowly rise onto your tippy toes. Try and balance by focusing your eyes on an object right in front of you. Hold your position for a count of 3. Lower your body and repeat. Now try holding it for longer. Remember keeping your balance is important.

Superhero Arm And Leg Raise

Lie on your stomach with your arms stretched out in front of you. Slowly lift your arms and legs like a flying superhero. Hold for ten seconds. Relax and repeat when you’re ready.

Trap The Ball

You will need a ball, two skipping ropes or scarves, and some space. Lay the skipping ropes side by side in a straight line, about two rulers width apart. Move through the two marked lines by tapping the ball and controlling it with the inside of your foot. Try and keep the ball in between the lines. How long can you keep the ball between the lines? Now try it again putting the ropes closer together.

Treasure Chest

Play this game in a large area with three or more players. Place a basin/ bucket in the centre of this area as the treasure chest. Fill it with treasure objects e.g. tennis balls, marbles, toys. Divide the players into two teams of pirates. Each pirate team stands on opposite sides. One player is the Captain. When the Captain says ‘Treasure Ahoy’ the pirates run back and forth to the chest, removing one piece of treasure at a time bringing it back to the ship. Whichever pirate team has the most treasure wins!

Triangle Pose

Begin by standing up straight with your legs wide apart. Turn your right toes to face out to the side. Reach your arms out to each side. Lean your right hand as far as you can over your right toes. Keeping your back as straight as possible, reach your right hand down to your right toes, and your left hand up to the ceiling. Repeat on the other side.