Warm weather is inviting us to get moving and be ACTIVE.  We just finished a great year of activity in physical education class!  In addition to the fun games that students enjoy playing, this year we focused on developing healthy habits that will last us a lifetime.  Throughout the year at every grade level we have talked about eating habits, physical fitness, personal hygiene, and emotional health.  This summer is a great time for the students to encourage their families to incorporate these habits into their life.

Summer is also a fantastic time to be outside, just remember to apply sunscreen often.  Here are some fun games that parents and students can play.  Sometimes just a little twist on an already enjoyable game will make it seem “new” or exciting.

· Bandage Tag:  Just like a regular game of tag where one person is “IT”.  But when a new person is tagged, he or she must cover the tag spot as if there were a bandage there.  The idea is to make the “IT” person look silly while running.  For example, if you tag a person on her elbow she must hold her elbow with the other hand while running and attempting to tag another person

· ALOHA Volley:  Just like a regular game of volleyball, but the teams must come up with creative Hawaiian names (i.e., the Volcano Volleys).  Instead of scoring traditional points the team earning the point will receive one letter in the word ALOHA.  The first team to spell ALOHA “wins”.  Or how about VACATION Volley or some other summer destination word?

· The Fugitives:  This is a different twist on the game “red light, green light”.  One player is the detective and stands 50 feet or more away from the fugitives.  The detective has an object of interest for the fugitives (perhaps a badge or hat or bandana).  The detective turns his/her back on the fugitives and yells “Out of Jail”.  When the detective turns around towards the “criminals” again he/she yells “Freeze”.  Any fugitive caught moving must sit back down in his/her jail until the end of the game.  The first person to reach the object wins and is the new detective.

· Kick the Can:  This one is a personal favorite for my husband and kids.  Yes you can get an aerobic workout from this after dinner game.

I got these ideas from the Family Fun website.  Whatever you do this summer, as you plan your days, think about adding an after-dinner family walk to the day.  Or perhaps challenge yourself to swim several times a week.  Maybe you’ve been meaning to dust off your tennis racquet, well now is the time to do that!  Whatever you do, stay active.  Remember to drink plenty of water.  I’ll see you next August.

Mrs. Digan