Physical activity is any type of purposeful body and muscle movement; it does not require equipment or even a lot of space. PA can be done in many places: home, school, or work. It can be part of your transportation – like walking to work, school or the market; part of your free time – like playing at the park or walking around your neighborhood. If you are a beginner it’s important to start slow and work your way up to more intense activity.
The benefits of physical activity are many including: better health, stronger muscles and bones, increased concentration, a more positive attitude, improved self image and confidence.
The Center for Disease Control recommends that we get 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Join us as we learn a new activity each month and be sure to check out some of our previous activities too.
Physical Activity of the Month
The Bucket Game
Equipment Needed:
- As many buckets as you have
- 2 sport spots or markers
- 2 cones
Set up:
• Mark off a large boundary area
• establish 2 teams or 2 players and place equal amount of buckets for each team
Rules to Play:
• Split children into two groups
• Establish what each team will build or do with the buckets (i.e. stack, place in a row, place on imaginary line, etc.)
• Call “1-2-3-GO!”
• Children will run to complete the task, one player at a time
Game provided by: Flaghouse Activity Channel
Fun & Educational Games for Home or School
Looking for easy, active games to keep kids moving and learning? These kid-tested activities are perfect for teachers and parents across Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire who want to promote physical activity, teamwork, and healthy habits — at school or at home.
These games support the goals of Kid Healthy programs, including Padres en Acción (Parents in Action) and Kid Healthy SPORTS, which focus on social-emotional learning, nutrition education, and structured active play.
Freeze Dance Challenge
Perfect for: Classrooms, PE, home movement breaks
How to Play:
Play music and dance until the music stops. Everyone freezes — anyone who moves must do a fun challenge like jumping jacks or naming a fruit.
Skills: Coordination, listening, energy release
Why Parents & Teachers Love It: No equipment needed. Great for small spaces and indoor use.
Follow the Leader: Fitness Edition
Perfect for: Recess, structured play, indoor group time
How to Play:
One child or adult leads with simple moves like hopping, toe touches, or stretches. Everyone copies. Switch leaders every few minutes.
Skills: Creativity, motor skills, confidence
Ties to SEL: Encourages leadership, cooperation, and focus.
Snack Tag
Perfect for: Recess, after-school programs, active classrooms
How to Play:
Play a classic tag game — but when tagged, the player must shout out a healthy snack (no repeats!).
Skills: Cardio fitness, nutrition recall, quick thinking
Why It’s a Favorite: Promotes both physical activity and healthy eating.
These games are great for rainy days, classroom transitions, or at-home brain breaks. They’re aligned with our S.T.A.R. method (Stop, Think, Act, Reflect) used in Kid Healthy’s social-emotional learning curriculum.
Mirror Moves
Perfect for: Indoor classroom use, parent-child time
How to Play:
In pairs, one child leads slow movements. The other mirrors them. Switch after one minute.
Skills: Concentration, empathy, coordination
Ties to SEL: Builds respect and nonverbal communication.
STAR Breathing Break
Perfect for: Calm-down corners, before tests, family routines
How to Play:
Teach the STAR method through deep breathing:
- Stop what you’re doing
- Think about how you feel
- Act by taking 3–5 deep breaths
- Reflect on how your body feels
Skills: Emotional regulation, mindfulness, focus
Why It Works: Helps children self-regulate and reflect — key to classroom and family harmony.
Tabletop Toss
Perfect for: Indoor brain breaks, after-school care
How to Play:
Players toss soft balls or paper into cups or containers. Keep score or assign different challenges.
Skills: Focus, coordination, turn-taking
Ties to SEL: Encourages responsibility and self-control.
Why These Games Matter
Every activity on this page is more than just fun — it’s part of Kid Healthy’s mission to build healthier communities by empowering parents, engaging students, and supporting schools across Southern California.
Whether you’re a teacher looking for easy, movement-based classroom ideas, or a parent who wants to keep kids active at home — these games are your tools for building healthy habits.
Support Local School Wellness Programs
Kid Healthy brings parent-led health education and structured play to underserved schools in Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire — but we can’t do it without community support.
Your donation funds active recess programs, parent training, nutrition workshops, and leadership development for students.
Help us reach more schools. Give today.