Health Activities for Kids
You've probably heard about the importance of taking care of your body so you stay healthy. Good health doesn't just happen; it's a result of eating nutritious foods, getting regular exercise, avoiding germs, and staying away from harmful substances. Your doctor and dentist are two people who can help you stay healthy, so it's important to have regular check-ups for your body and teeth. Exercise and nutrition can be fun if you learn and play games while you stay active and eat well.
Kids need to stay physically active just like everyone else. When you make time for exercise every day, you probably find that you feel better, have more energy, and feel less stress. You'll also be able to sleep better at night, and it will be easier to keep your body healthy when you exercise every day. Doctors recommend that kids get at least one hour of physical activity every day. You can do this by playing sports, by running around and playing outdoors with your friends, and by doing things such as walking and biking.
If you think eating healthy is boring and unappealing, think again. Nutritious food can be just as tasty as it is good for you. When you reach for fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and dairy products, you are giving your body the vitamins and minerals it needs for health. These foods also help your body to grow and develop, which is important for your health now and in the future. Even if you try a new food and think you don't like it, don't give up. You may find that it takes a few tries of a new food before you like it. Eating a variety of healthy foods every day is the best way to give your body the nutrients it needs.
Harmful substances are chemicals that will hurt your body. These substances could be drugs and alcohol, or they might be chemicals used for cleaning. If you will be using chemicals to clean or take care of other chores, always have an adult involved who will supervise to keep you safe. Some chemicals should not touch your skin, and other chemicals can be dangerous if you eat or drink them, inhale them, or get them in your eyes. Because drugs and alcohol can be addictive and harmful, don't ever experiment with these substances. People who become addicted to drugs and alcohol often need to get professional help to break their addiction.
Germs are everywhere, and they can often make people sick. Bacteria are a type of germ that can cause infections if they get into the human body. Bacteria can cause ear infections, sore throats, and even more serious illnesses like pneumonia. Viruses are another type of germ that also cause illness. Viruses cause sicknesses like measles and the flu. You can get sick if you touch a surface where a germ is sitting, and once germs get in your body, they can make you feel sick with things like fevers, rashes, and coughing. Washing your hands frequently is an important defense against germs. This gets the germs off of you so they can't get into your body from your fingers. If you are sick, stay away from other people so you don't share your germs. If others are sick, try to keep your distance so you don't catch their illness.
The more you learn about health, the better you can take care of yourself. Play games and do activities that will teach you about exercise, nutrition, germs, and overall health. Practicing good health while you're a kid will make it more likely that you'll keep these good habits after you grow up. A healthy lifestyle can be important for being happy and successful, and it may mean that you stay healthy and live longer.
Physical Activity
- Keeping Kids Active
- Make Fitness Fun for the Whole Family
- Easy and Simple Exercises for Kids
- 16 Mind-Blowing Exercise Games to Make Kids Active, Fit, and Healthy
- Fitness Games for Kids
- How to Make Exercise Fun for Kids
Nutrition
- Kids' Food Critic Activity (PDF)
- Make a Pizza
- Banana Benefits (video)
- Healthy Eating Games and Activities
- Farm to Fork Game
- Blast Off Game
Harmful Substances
- How Smart Are You About Drugs?
- Name That Drug
- Mouse Party
- Deadly Highs Lesson Plan
- Drugs and Your Life
Germs
- Germs and Hygiene
- Fun and Effective Hygiene Activities
- Washing Hands Activities for Kids
- Make Germs Scatter Science Demonstration
- Germ Tag
