What do you do for P.E.?

Indya - posted on 10/21/2011

Well, I must say I had this same concern. My daughter wanted to play a sport so I got her into homeschool volleyball. This ended up being another opportunity for her to socialize and feel good about being a homeschooler AND I keep track of all of her practices and game times because here in Indiana she only needs 1 year (or 180 hours) of gym / P.E. So, other than her just going outside playing, this is a way for her to get her gym hours!

Adriana - posted on 05/01/2011

I live along the coast so the weather doesn't always permit outside activities. So I've just kinda added to our curriculum at the very end we put the stereo really loud and my kindergartener picks worship music from the internet. He just haves at it dancing before the lord for about 20 minutes or until he is tired and wants to stop.

Emily - posted on 03/09/2011

Our PE class, right now, consists of opening the back door, and letting them escape into the yard. They figure it out from there. ;) We do go roller skating every Saturday, however.

During the summer, we do a lot of hiking, biking, bowling, and swimming. We don't take the summer off from school, so I consider all of that to be PE classes.

Krissy - posted on 02/09/2011

one family I knew kept a file box of exercises and activities they could do individually and one as a family...

the child got to choose sometimes, or mom would choose, and they also had a huge tub of "equipment" that they needed like jump ropes, bean bags, balls, etc... the file card would include what equipment to use and instructions on how to complete it.

Me, however, I'm barely keeping up with the academics this year. They just free play, bike ride, kick around a ball, etc... in the summer, we spend about 35% of our waking hours swimming as there is an in ground pool in the community we live.

Rose - posted on 10/15/2010

we also do some brain gym exercises (from book I got through amazon) at the beginning, and mid way school work too, to get her going so far so good. Thanks to God for all these ideas.

Rose - posted on 10/15/2010

summer I try and take them to inside places like aquariums, indoor kids play centers, bouncer places etc. first part of fall got them in gym classes once a week. now the second half God willing we hit the theme parks:)

Melissa - posted on 09/22/2010

We have a circular hall in the house, so the kids will do sets of calisthenics and jogging, such as 5 laps, 5 push-ups, 5 sit-ups. The laps are small-- 116 per mile. Some days they'll just run 100+ laps, but they think it's really fun for some reason. We also have indoor and outdoor bouncers, scooters, and roller blades I let them play with indoors. We have also done gym at co-op, are members of a local rock gym, and were doing the YMCA program for a while. We try to vary it. If the weather's nice, we'll go to the park or walking on trails. If you don't have anywhere to workout indoors, maybe go speed walking at the mall.

DEBBIE - posted on 09/05/2010

co-op

Heather - posted on 08/25/2010

Today my kids ran laps around the basement... yesterday they did jumping jacks :) Mind you this was of their on free will, nothing I asked them to do... But hey it still counts!

Christine - posted on 08/25/2010

The Wii is great. We all use that.

Christine - posted on 08/24/2010

We are in a co-op that offers PE. My kids are on a dance team.

Teri - posted on 08/24/2010

We ride bikes. We normally do a 3.5 mile loop, but sometime we ride to and from church or about on errands. They also play baseball and swim a lot. Plus the like to run. And we go to kids group at church and they always do a physical game. I guess my kids are pretty active.

Cheryl - posted on 06/28/2010

MINI TRAMP!!!!! Total lifesaver for my son!

Our co-op has a gym time, we do nature walks, bike rides, have soccer equipment and tball stuff for the yard and neighbors.

We also have the SmartCycle toy. It's for 3-6 year olds. It was a good sale at Christmas and we put it in the attic for the summer, so they only ride in the winter.

Once they get alittle older, we plan on getting a Wii or I hear Xbox is coming out with their version soon.

Heather - posted on 06/26/2010

We have a few exercise video's for the kids to choose from... depending on the size of your living room this works great!

Tam - posted on 06/26/2010

If you have a Wii, you could incorporate the Fit into your PE to supplement it. Our children are in martial arts (Tae Kwon Do, Judo, Jiu Jitsu) so we were looking for something to supplement. We also have pilates videos and the boys are learning about weights from their father.

Bonnie - posted on 06/01/2010

My kids love to do my yoga video with me and we LOVE to dance we will just turn up the stereo and dance around the house like we have lost our minds lol. It is exercise and stress relief in one!

Lisa - posted on 06/01/2010

we've also been blessed with a big yard so the kids mostly do some running around and playing on their own. we have joined the GMAU - the gospel martial arts union - and have classes with them once a week. they have a great program to reward the kids for exercising at home, so each day my kids are doing jumping jacks, crunches, push ups, squat thrusts, punches, kicks and blocks. my youngest is also in ballet and my oldest does horseback riding. we also love our wii fit - great investment for those days when you are indoors and need a workout! perhaps you could work out your own reward system and tracking sheets for daily workouts?

Rachelle - posted on 04/18/2010

we turn on the wii when the weather is bad. everyone loves the variation and the competiotion of wii fit plaza and wii sports

Andora - posted on 04/13/2010

we has some really fun things that keep the kiddos moving, and we do recorded workouts like aerobics and pilates and yoga. we also do brain gym exercises that are very helpful for cognitive readiness.

LeAnn - posted on 03/20/2010

We joined the YMCA. They have sports for kids age 3-grade 8. Each season, they offer a variety of sports, so we're working through the rotation. Our 3yo has already played t-ball and soccer. Those are the only 2 sports they have for his age, so he'll just be alternating those 2. Our 11yo has played flag football & basketball. Volleyball practice starts next week! Next season they'll both be playing soccer. They each have practice once a week and a game once a week. Other than that, they just play!

Janelle - posted on 03/18/2010

my mom had a 30 min christian based exercise video (to upbeat hymns and such) that we would put on sometimes....maybe you could find something like that?

Gene & Erin - posted on 03/15/2010

We have local support groups that do PE (one at a college and one at a church w/a gym). We aren't currently involved but are blessed with a huge yard. Most of the time they just go play but sometimes we find a certain activity to do. Like I found a small set of golf clubs in our old barn and then found a big bag of golf balls at a yard sale. We looked up the correct way to hit a ball and went outside. Now the kids have fun finding the lost balls.
It has been really yucky weather this year and they get super-hyper cooped up all the time (especially the boys). They like to build tents (castles) and flip and roll all over the place. And do ballet (well, they think they do ballet). Or we turn on oldies music and dance (this normally keeps them occupied for a long time). We just have to make sure there is enough space in the floor (pick up toys).
If you can find a support group I highly recommend joining (not just for the kids but to have some mommy conversaton also). If not, then walk to the park or move the living room furniture and dance or play duck,duck, goose. Or even hide and seek in the house gets some wiggles out.
And check your local laws. Some states require PE or health - in that case I'd buy a book and fit it into my weekly routine. Personnally, I don't give P.E. to much thought so long as they stay active.

Alisa - posted on 03/11/2010

When we lived in FL, we found that there were many indoor playgrounds since it was too hot to go to playgrounds (you paid each time or got a membership like at a gym). Now living in PA, there are also indoor places that you pay about $10 each visit; but I also found that some townships have indoor playrooms. People will donate used toys/ play equipment and parents can take there kids there for free and the kids play w/ other kids and the parents can sit & talk all inside (these are more for younger kids..preschool & K)



OLDER KIDS: We have bounce places (bounce castle rental places will sometimes also have them blown up when not rented for kids to play on inside); indoor rock climbing; indoor mini golf; roller skating; ice skating; batting cages; laser tag; bowling.



Contact 4H in your area since they may have horseback riding (we have it for $5 on certain times of the year). YMCA has programs also.



You really do need to ask around, call townships & find what things they offer or know about, call the libraries also and they know about different programs. Ask other parents in your area. Hope this helps.