Agility Exercises for Kids

Motivating children to exercise can be a daunting task for some, yet children can benefit from developing agility in their bodies. Children of all ages may be more willing to do get exercise if they find the activities fun and full of achievement opportunities such as getting a higher score or beating a specific time. Obstacle courses, video games and ordinary playground games can all serve as agility exercises for kids.

Field Activities

• An ordinary playground or jungle gym can serve as a means for an agility-increasing obstacle course. The leader would map out a routine or course much like those shown on "Ninja Warrior" or "Wipe Out". The goal would be for kids to complete obstacles such as the slide, monkey bars and balance beam walks in a specific order as quickly as possible. These obstacles require agility to be completed. Older children may be interested in being timed for friendly competition among friends, while younger ones could have fun just completing the course with your assistance. Playing up-tempo music in the background or adding a theme to the obstacle course can make it more appealing.

Video Games

• As technology has developed, video games have become increasingly interactive beyond using hand controllers and staring at a television screen. Games such as "Dance Dance Revolution", which requires a lot of agility and coordination, started off in arcades but have migrated to the home via game systems like the Nintendo Wii. In Dance Dance Revolution, high-tempo songs and graphics are played and displayed. A dance mat with directional arrows is connected to the game system and placed on the floor in front of the television. As the songs are played, arrows move across the screen through a target zone. The player must coordinate stepping on the play mat on the same arrow as the one displayed. With higher difficulty levels, multiple arrows at great speeds will be displayed, calling for increased agility and balance to be successful.

Playground Games

• Another way kids can develop agility is through common recess playground games. A number of them require agility to be performed successfully, but developing agility through playing can also be fun. Hopscotch, for instance, requires the players to hop through numerically sequenced boxes that alternate using one or both feet. The player tosses a rock or marker into these boxes and must hop into them without using help from their hands or body parts to maintain balance. The hopping distance increases throughout the game, making the hops more challenging as it continues. Playing "Jacks" can develop hand agility. The player sets 5 jacks into a pile. He then bounces a palm-sized ball next to the jacks. The player must attempt to grab a specific number of jacks with one hand before the ball lands. It starts with players grabbing one jack at a time, and then increasing to two jacks and so on.