Warming Up Exercises

Warming up muscles is very important before taking part in physical activities, these examples can also be used on their own just for fun.

Jelly Beans

This is again another simple way of warming up and can be lots of fun. The activity is based on actions to portray different kind of beans that the person leading the activity calls out.

It is obviously important that the children understand exactly what they are expected to do when the name of each kind of bean is called out. The age of the children will determine how quickly the children remember the actions, but from experience it doesn't take long especially with the lead person doing all the actions. This is particular important to help children with hearing impairment be able to fully take part in the activity.

• Broad Bean: Arms and legs wide apart
• Runner Bean: Running on the spot
• Jumping Bean: Jumping feet together from side to side
• Chilli Bean: Standing legs together arms across each other hands rubbing opposite arms to keep warm
• Beans on toast: Curled up on the floor, arms and legs tucked in
• Jelly Bean: Moving body in a swaying movement from the head down to look like a jelly wobbling
• Baked Bean: Lying down flat on your back as though you were sunbathing

Once the children are confident then the names of beans are called out at intervals to encourage a wide range of movements.

Traffic Lights

This activity is based on the three traffic light colours of red, amber and green. Each colour called out determines what the children should be doing.

• Red - standing still
• Amber - Running on the spot
• Green - Running around the room

This encourages the children to listen to the person leading the activity whilst still moving. Coloured scarves or card could be held up at the same time as calling out the colour; this would be essential if there were any children with hearing impairments in the group.

Once the children have got used to the three traffic light colours, other things could be be added such as:

• Roundabout - must run round in a small circle
• Speed bump - jump in the air before running on.
• Reverse - run backwards
• Traffic jam - run slowly
• Road clear (used after traffic jam) - run around normally

There are lots of possibilities and the children might like to think of their own ideas to add.

Circle Games

These games help the children to work together, whilst improving their coordination. The younger children and those children not used to ball games may find it easier to catch a larger ball to begin with before trying small tennis sized balls or beanbags. It is important that the children experience some early success when learning to catch otherwise they soon think that they just can't do it.

Game 1

You will need

A selection of balls, or bean bags

Get the children to stand in a circle around an adult. It is best with playgroup/nursery aged children to have circles of about 6-10 children otherwise they get impatient waiting for their turn to come round again.

Using an appropriate sized ball the adult in the centre throws to one of the children in the circle who after catching it then throws the ball back to the adult in the centre. The ball is then thrown to the next child and back to the centre and so on until the ball has gone to each child.

The adult can then throw the ball to different children around the circle calling their name first, with the child again returning the ball to the centre. This can continue for a while and can be ended with the child who has just thrown the ball back sitting down, so that gradually one at a time the children drop out of the circle until everyone has had their turn.

When the children are confidently catching the ball, a smaller ball or beanbag could be used or the ball could be passed using a bounce. The children could also take it turns to be the centre person throwing out to the circle.

Game 2

You will need

A selection of balls, or bean bags

Again you will need the children to make a circle around an adult. As with game 1 the adult throws the ball to one of the children in the circle who having caught the ball then runs around the outside of the circle until they reach their place and throw back the ball.