Free Kids Health Activities

Preventing childhood obesity starts with health education at home and school. Keeping kids active and providing healthy food choices makes a difference in the current and future health of a child. Online programs incorporate games and activities with lessons on proper food choices and physical activity. In addition to these online resources, check local community centers for nutrition and sports programs for kids.

Nourish Interactive

• Fun interactive games teach healthy food options for kids.

  Nourish Interactive is an online game and education center that focuses on nutrition and exercise for kids. Its user friendly interface allows kids to set up an account where parents can track the child's activities. There is also a program for parents to learn nutrition tips and tools to encourage healthy living at home. The site is bilingual, offering an English and Spanish version, and children earn certificates of completion. This resource provides information for the whole family and is beneficial for teachers to incorporate into classroom learning.

BAM!

• The colorful style of BAM! engages kids in a world of health and fitness.

  The Department of Health and Human Services, through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, offers a free website of activities. The BAM! Program, which stands for "Body and Mind", is filled with activities and resources for kids. Its colorful display and comic-book imagery engage children in fun activities that teach about all aspects of health: fitness, disease, nutrition, personal safety and body awareness. In addition to online games, this site suggests physical activities, cooking experiments and avoiding peer pressure.

We Can!

• Good food choices provide energy to get through a school day.

  The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute created a program called "We Can! Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition." It is a national childhood obesity prevention program. It is aimed at children ages 8 to 13 and guides them to stay at a healthy weight. It provides ideas and tools for parents, educators, community leaders and health professionals to implement for local children. The program provides links to additional fitness and health resources for kids.

My Pyramid: Kids

• An interactive food pyramid helps kids learn the importance of a balanced diet.

  The "My Pyramid" nutrition and physical fitness program for children is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Information is separated among preschool and adolescent age groups with online games and printable activities. Preschool-age children have a "Kitchen Activities" worksheet with age-specific ideas on getting kids into the kitchen and assisting in preparing meals. Older kids can play the "Blast Off" interactive game and fuel their rocket with healthy food choices and physical activity.