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Movement for Healthy Bodies

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February 25, 2025

Movement for Healthy Bodies

Physical skills and healthy bodies can be built through everyday activities and movement. As a caring grown-up in a child’s life, you can facilitate movement and learning, and our partners at Sesame Street are here to help. Their worksheet provides fun ideas to get kids moving. Remember, there’s always an opportunity to move! 

Paint the Ceiling 

Have kids pretend to dip their hands in a bucket of paint. Kids can then “paint” on the ceilings, walls, and floors. Encourage kids to paint different patterns, using a variety of movements to get their whole body engaged. 

Skills Practiced: 

  • Whole-Body Engagement 
  • Imaginative Play 
  • Range of Motion 

Celebrate Our Bodies 

Pick a song or video that highlights naming body parts. Ask kids to listen closely to instructions. Celebrating what their bodies can do helps kids stay motivated to take good care of them. 

Skills Practiced: 

  • Body Awareness 
  • Movement Skills 
  • Spatial Understanding 

Animal Movements 

Play or mimic the sound of an animal. Ask kids to move like that animal. You could also describe what an animal looks or acts like and have kids guess the animal before acting it out. 

Skills Practiced: 

  • Balance 
  • Flexibility 
  • Locomotor Skills 

Finger Play 

Use your fingers to “act” out a familiar story. Ask kids to watch closely and see if they can figure out what happened in the story. Kids can also use their fingers to play along. 

Skills Practiced: 

Fine Motor Skills 

Focus & Memory 

Storytelling 

Cardio Dance Party 

Put on a favorite song and encourage kids to move, shake, and be silly the whole time. Remember, kids need to get active for at least 60 minutes a day, and this activity is a great way to add active minutes. 

Skills Practiced: 

  • Heart-Healthy Habits 
  • Body Confidence 
  • Social Interaction 

Cool Down Stretches 

After being active, help kids cool down and be calm with some deep breathing and stretching. Choose a few poses and hold each for a few breaths. Top off your cool down session with a drink of water and a healthy snack. 

Skills Practiced: 

  • Centering  
  • Coordination 
  • Relaxation 

 

For more resources, visit Sesame Workshop’s Physical Activity webpage.