How to keep your kids active during coronavirus lockdown
Play balloon tennis
A classic, sort of. But it is simple, cheap, does not require more than a few feet of living room space and it does not run the risk of a television getting smashed. All you need is a pack of balloons, something sturdy like a chair or sofa to act as a net, and at least two players to whack the balloon back and forth across the room. Parents might even find themselves getting involved, for the stress relief of hitting an object as hard as possible, as much as anything else.
Do the keepie uppie challenge – with a loo roll
Children can now, more than ever, feel a kinship with their favourite sports stars, in that everyone is in the same boat when it comes to self-isolating. Emulating the skills of football’s finest need not include a pitch, cheering crowd or even a ball, as players have substituted it all with a humble roll of toilet paper. The viral social media sensation has the best footballers in the world posting videos of their attempts at the keepie uppie challenge, using a single loo roll, launched in an effort to encourage people to stay home.
It is an easy way to keep moving, and gives kids the opportunity to try to match or even beat their sporting idols’ highest score.
Invest in a smart football
If you deem your loo roll stockpile too precious to be kicking around, you might want to invest in DribbleUp, a smart football or basketball designed to help improve skills. Connected to your TV or phone/tablet, the DribbleUp allows you to access one-one-one virtual coaching, set your kids hundreds of challenges, and work on ball skills that will help them ease past defenders when they finally get back on the pitch or court. And it is all doable indoors. It is not just for kids either, so could help you hone your footwork or bouncing skills for when your five-a-side team is back up and running.
Do PE in your front room
It did not take long for ‘The Body Coach’ Joe Wicks, always a beacon of enthusiasm and energy, to get involved in offering a public service amid this global health crisis. As school closures were announced, he pledged to bring physical education to the living room, in launching ‘PE with Joe’ on his social channels.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” he said in a video posted on his Twitter, addressing a nation of worried parents. “I’m going to get your kids moving, energised and positive and optimistic. “I’m going to be the nation’s PE teacher”.
Wicks will be hosting PE classes to any child who wants to take part, from 9am on weekdays on his YouTube channel, The Body Coach TV.