Buzz
Over the past two years of martial arts training, my son has absorbed countless valuable lessons from his instructor, including respect, discipline, perseverance, and self-confidence. However, my favorite insight is this: Children are more than willing to perform push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks if they first get to roll enormous dice across the floor.
This activity is a hit among every child in his class, even surpassing the excitement of the occasional obstacle course day. The instructor uses two sturdy, padded dice—one displaying numbers and the other featuring exercise symbols. The kids eagerly take turns rolling the dice to determine the number and type of exercises they’ll perform. (When someone rolls a low number like one or two, the instructor playfully insists, “That’s too few... let’s make it twenty!” eliciting laughter and mock groans from the group.)
Recently, it struck me that this could be an excellent way to keep kids active and burn off their pent-up energy, especially during the winter months. While heavy padded dice might not be ideal for your living room, a lightweight inflatable or foam set would work perfectly.
Ensure you purchase a set of at least two dice—use one for numbers and customize the other with a Sharpie to include their preferred exercises. Here are some suggestions:
Frog Jumps
Bunny Hops
High Knees
Butt-Kickers
Mountain-Climbers
Sit-ups
Push-ups
Jumping Jacks
Star Jacks
If you prefer a more mindful approach, consider introducing them to yoga poses. Have them roll the dice to determine how many seconds (multiplied by ten) they should hold each pose.
Whenever you notice their energy levels soaring, grab the dice and let the rolling begin.
