Ideas for Children's Race Activities

A fun race is a good way to promote exercise to children.

Any parent will know that children go through a phase where they have more energy than they know what to do with. Instead of letting that energy bottle up while playing video games, try to get them outside and running. These race ideas will not only provide them with fun-filled exercise, they will also tire the children out for a good night's sleep.

Three-legged race

To play this team-building game, all you need are willing children and some string. You need an even number and at least four children to take part in this race. Divide the children into pairs and have them stand side by side so that one child's left leg and the other child's right leg are touching. Tie the string around the ankles of the two touching legs, and do this for each pair of children in the race. Once all the pairs are ready, the race can begin. Set up the course so that the children need to run to an object, circle it, and return back to the starting line. The challenge will be for each of the pairs to run as one. The first team back to the finish line with their legs still tied wins the race.

Egg on a spoon race

This is a race that will test a child's patience, balance and concentration. You can run this race with as few as two children, or with as many as want to participate. Give each child a soup spoon and an uncooked egg. The spoon needs to be big enough for the egg to fit on. Have every child balance the egg on the spoon. Once they have, you are ready to start the race. Set up the course so that the children have to walk around a number of objects, making them turn often to test their balance. Each child follows the same course, and the first one to the finish line with an intact egg wins the race.

Wheelbarrow race

This race is run in pairs and practices teamwork. With at least four children, split the kids into pairs. Once they are sorted, one of the children lies down on the ground and the other remains standing up. The child standing up then pulls up the legs of his partner as though he were holding up a wheelbarrow. With her legs being held up by her partner, the child on the ground supports herself on her hands. Once all the pairs are in this position, the race can begin. Set up the course as a straight line of about 30 feet. Each pair has to walk from the starting line to the other end of the course, turn around, and return back to the starting line while staying in the wheelbarrow position. The first team back to the finish line wins the race.

The obstacle course relay race

To get children exercising and playing together, set up an obstacle course that can be run in teams. You need at least four children to run this race, but can have as many more than that as you'd like. Divide the children into two teams. Set up your course in a circular fashion with four different obstacle stations. Use obstacles such as, "Do a push up," "Do five jumping jacks," "Throw a ball in the air and catch it," and "Throw a ball into a basket." To start the race, line up both teams at the starting line and have one member from each team run through the course. Once she has completed it, she touches the hand of the next member of the team, who then runs through the course. The team whose members all complete the course first wins the race.

References

• BAM: Body and Mind -- the benefits of exercise for children