Move

Keeping active is such an important part of keeping fit and healthy. It also really helps to make you feel happy, it gives you energy, helps you to have better sleep and it can be lots of fun! Living an active lifestyle helps you to build strong muscles and bones too, and helps to keep our bodies healthy.

Things like playing sport, going for a family walk or playing on a playground are some enjoyable ways to get your body moving. 

Space out some of the below activities throughout your week to make sure your family keep moving.

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Dancing with Harold

On Global Wellness Day Michelle and Harold joined the team at Wellington Dance for a special dance lesson to help them feel happy and healthy. Exercise is great for our health, and can also help us to feel happy too. Trying new things is also something that is good for our wellbeing.

Watch the video and give the activity below a try:

• Download the activity Excellent exercise and have a go at filling it in here.

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Write a list of exercises to try

Harold cant go to the park so is thinking of things we can do at home for exercise.  What can you come up with?

Watch the video and then give the activities below a try:

• Print out and make Harold's Fitness Game here.
• Get active with Jump Jam here.
• Read through Harold's Fact Sheet Physical Activity, then give his quiz a try here.
• Check out our Fit as a Fiddle learning experience together as a family here.​

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Create a treasure hunt

Create a treasure hunt challenge for members of your family. Make a list of items and hide them around your house or garden - make sure you don't forget where you put them! Then write a list of clues for your family and get everyone moving, searching around for the hidden items.

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Go for a walk

Going for a walk is a great way to get moving and can be made into a fun social activity too! Heading out with family is a great opportunity to catch up and have a chat. 

You can also use your time out walking to explore different places near where you live. You might be surprised by the things you notice that you haven't seen before!

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Go out for a ride

Do you have a bike, scooter, skateboard or roller-blades? These are all fun ways to get some exercise while perfecting your riding skills.

Here are some ideas to make your ride even more fun:

• Try going for a ride somewhere new
• Have a race with your family (while being careful)
• ​Create a track in your back yard with different obstacles that you can ride around
  

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Try a family boot camp

Spend some time with your family thinking of a list of exercises that you can do together in your backyard. Set a time, get in your exercise gear and get your sweat on!

Here are some ideas for different exercises you could try:

• Push-ups
• Skipping
• Running on the spot
• Sit-ups
• Star jumps

If you're feeling competitive you could even have races to see who can do their exercises the quickest (being careful though!)

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Try a new exercise or sport that you haven't tried before

Trying new things is really good for you. It helps you to expand your mind, to learn new things and to get to know yourself better - plus it can be lots of fun! Is there any exercises or sports that you haven't tried before that you would like to give a go? 
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• If you'd like to give yoga a try - click here for a fun video you can follow along with
• If you'd like to give zumba a try - click here for a fun video you can follow along with

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Play a game outside

What games do you like playing outside? Get your family together to play a game where you can have a bit of a run around.

Here are some ideas:

• Kick a ball around the backyard
• Play a family game of cricket
• Play a game of tiggy or hide and seak
• Shoot some netball or basketball hoops
• Throw around a frisbee or ball

Check out Harold's Fact Sheet about Physical Activity and give his quiz a try here.

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Fit as a fiddle

Most of us spend a lot of time sitting down each day, at school and at work. It's important for us to keep active ​for our health and wellbeing, so its a good idea to come up with a family activity plan to make sure you do something active every day. We don't want to become couch potatoes!

Together as a family, download Harold's Learning Experience and work through the questions here.

Did you know that you have the right to relax, play and join in activities like sports and music?  It is listed as article 31 in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children agreement. Click here for an activity that encourages further exploration of these rights. 
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Design your own obstacle course

Using objects from around the house, head outside and create an obstacle course. Be as creative as you like - here are some obstacle ideas you could try:

• Skipping
• Bouncing a ball
• Crawling under an outdoor table
• Hopscotch
• Jumping through a hula hoop
• Running a lap of the garden
• Doing forwards rolls

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Get dancing

Sometimes we can't go outside to do exercise, but there are lots of fun ways we can get our bodies moving inside our homes. Our Educator Kat shares one of her favourite ways to exercise indoors in this video.

Watch the video and give the activities below a try:

• Have a boogie to Kat and Harold's favourite song from our friends at Feel Brave Nothing like a good friend here.
• Download the activity Excellent exercise and have a go at filling it in here.

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The floor is lava game

Imagine the floor is hot lava. Can you design a way to get around your living room and touch each wall of the room without touching the floor?  You might use cushions, chairs, or a blanket to help you navigate the ‘safe’ journey.