What if you know you need to get your kids moving more but aren’t sure how to make that happen? Maybe it’s raining outside, or maybe they are angry at their bikes or afraid of bees or something. Perhaps your child is just resistant to movement completely. Whether you need a complete change of pace or a fun way to get everyone warmed up, Exercise Bingo is the perfect choice.
If you’re looking for other interactive sensory Bingo experiences, our Yoga Bingo is a great option. While the suggestions in this Exercise Bingo are more alerting in terms of sensory input, the Yoga Bingo suggestions are perfect for calming.
The Benefits of Exercise Bingo
Wake up the brain. Have you seen what happens to the brain when you exercise? The heat map of the brain after exercise is incredible. All of those neural pathways light up and get ready to receive information. I like to tell my kids exercise is like magic for the brain. If your child is stuck on math, have them take a break. No matter how hard it is to put the pencil down, have the kids step away from math and gather for Exercise Bingo. Ten or fifteen minutes playing this game and you can reset your entire day and wrap your brain around math again.
Resolve big emotions. Exercise releases endorphins, and endorphins can help calm those big emotions. So if Mom is having a grumpy day after the math struggle, she should join in Exercise Bingo too.
Sensory Feedback. If a child has lost their place in space (proprioception), exercise is a grounding activity that will help your child get that sense of normalcy and security they crave. Pressure on muscles and joints through exercise is an invaluable sensory experience your kids will come to crave.
The proof is in the pudding. I know for me, my kids did not believe the power of exercise until they experienced it for themselves. I showed them the pictures of the brain after exercise, and then had them try school work after cardio. Now when they are struggling, they voluntarily find a physical activity. This is something that happens over time, not overnight so don’t give up modeling Exercise Bingo with your kids.
How to Play Exercise Bingo
Supplies
- Printout of the sheet for each child.
- Laminating the printouts will allow you to use them over and over with dry erase markers.
- If you don’t want to laminate them, you could use stickers in the boxes, which is also fun.
Instructions
- Complete an exercise.
- Mark off the box for that activity.
- Complete a row to win.
Variations for Exercise Bingo
While at it’s core, the steps I described above are how to play, I love the fact that bingo gives you so much flexibility. Try any of these variations!
Work in teams or as individuals.
Reward completion of rows, four corners, or the entire board with different levels of prizes.
You could also give a bingo award for learning four new skills, trying for arm exercises, etc. Get creative with the groupings!
Fun fact: Exercise Bingo is a great way to run off some energy at stops on long car trips!
What Kids Practice During Exercise Bingo
Balance. Many of the exercises require balance and coordination to be completed correctly. Of course, they don’t have to be correct every time you play, but over time with consistency these skills will improve.
Following Directions. If they are uncertain what a specific exercise is, they will have to listen and follow instructions to get credit for the activity.
Large Muscle Movement. Coordinating large muscle movement (gross motor skills) is an essential first step in developing small muscle movement (fine motor skills). If your child is struggling with fine motor skills, start with exercise.
Proprioception. Kids who struggle understanding where there body is in relation to the world (sensory perception) benefit so much from grounding activities that provide direct feedback about body position. That’s what exercise is – it’s proprioception practice. Yoga Bingo is another fantastic way to work on this type of feedback.
Names of Exercises. Knowing what a squat is or what tug of war is — these are actual concepts that kids should learn and recognize. It’s a whole new vocabulary. A shocking number of kids don’t know what it means to frog jump or crab walk and all of these exercises are so good for body development, but are also a part of the common shared experience — helping us relate to each other.
Tips for Exercise Bingo Success
Keep it low key and low pressure. Turning exercise into something stressful is not a good idea, so take it easy at first, set minimal expectations, and keep everything as light and fun as possible.
Participate with your kids. Kids are amazing imitators and if they see you having fun with an activity, they are far more likely to join in. Conversely if they hear you grousing about an activity, they are far less likely to have a good attitude. Set the bar high by having a happy heart and enjoying the game.
Make sure you have plenty of useable space. Whether inside or outside, everyone needs room to move around without bumping into each other so spread out, and clean up that toy room if necessary.
Encourage positive participation. You don’t have to offer physical rewards like toys or candy or treats. Encouragement is so powerful! Use life-giving words to encourage your kids when you see them participating in something that stretches them, demonstrating a good attitude, or setting a good example for siblings.
Grab your free printable Exercise Bingo game here:
This sensory experience inspired by the unique world of Beetlejuice would also be a great addition to your classroom or party. It’s made with simple items that can often be purchased at a dollar store such as the Dollar Tree.
