Children, traditionally, just can’t seem to wait for recess or P.E. during the school day. And it’s not just because they want to play instead of learn. Physical education is an essential part of child development. Periods of physical activity may make it easier for children to concentrate when it’s time to return to their schoolwork. That said, you may be racking your brain trying to come up with varied activities that your children love and that fit into the Abeka homeschool curriculum. Have no fear!

We’ve organized them into categories by type of activity, so there will be something for every active child.

Sports

Got a few athletes in the house? Great! Don’t have a badminton or basketball court in your backyard? That’s fine. Head out to the nearest park and start a pickup game. The following sports are approved P.E. activities, so try a different one every day with your sporty child!

• Badminton
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Cross-country skiing
• Cycling
• Football
• Handball
• Hockey
• Martial arts
• Racquetball
• Rowing
• Skiing
• Soccer
• Squash
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Play

Some children (especially younger ones) prefer to get their exercise in a more relaxed manner, and these play-centered activities are more than enough to get their hearts pumping.

• Hopscotch
• Jumping rope
• Mini trampoline
• Roller skating
• “Simon Says”
• Tag

Traditional Exercise

Your children might see you sweating along to your workout video, running on the elliptical, or heading out for your early-morning run and beg to accompany you. Let them in for some fun (and get their energy out)! For kids who want to learn how to (safely) pump iron or pedal away on the spin bike, activities like these are perfect for incorporating into your homeschool day.

• Aerobics
• Elliptical
• Running
• Stair climbing
• Stationary cycling
• Stationary running
• Treadmill
• Walking
• Weightlifting

However your children like to move between breaks in the school day, hopefully you’ve now gained a few more ideas to incorporate into your homeschool routine. When it comes to physical education, the sky is the limit!