GET READY, GET SET,

MOVE!
By Danielle Shotwell

GET READY, GET SET, MOVE!

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children
and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years.
In 2010, more than one third of children and
adolescents were overweight or obese.
Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and
physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming
obese and developing related diseases.
Schools play a particularly critical role by
establishing a safe and supportive environment with
policies and practices that support healthy behaviors.
Schools also provide opportunities for students to
learn about and practice healthy eating and physical
activity behaviors.

OBESITY IN AMERICA

PURPOSE
The purpose of this activity is show parents the
risk factors of childhood obesity and encourage
new ways to help keep their children active.
To develop physical skills, including competency
in body management and spatial movement, and
manipulative skills, while participating in a noncompetitive, non-threatening manner.

BENEFITS
Help childrens ability to move their bodies from
one place to another (walking, running, and
jumping) and move in place (bending, twisting,
pushing, and pulling).
Increase manipulative skills.
Families and children participate in safe physical
activities.
Families also interact with each other and have a
great time.
Families learn different creative ways to get their
children on the move!

THE ORDER OF EVENTS

Get Ready, Get Set, Move!

MIXER
As families arrive distribute name tags and have
each family member write his or her name on the
nametag. Each family has the same color nametag.
Each color represents a station.
Divide the families into two groups and have them
form a circle and another circle inside the circle.
Have the inside circle and outside circle facing
each other.
Play music and have the inner circle move
counterclockwise and the outer circle move the
clockwise. Stop the music every 10 to 15 seconds to
have the two circles introduce themselves. Repeat
this process

INTRODUCTION

Tell the families that their nametags will

designate their activity station. As follows
Beanbags

(red beanbag)
Scarves (yellow scarves)
Hoops (green hoops)
Balls (blue ball)
Create an obstacle course (orange optical course)

Families are to listen for the music and move

clockwise when they hear a signal.

STATION 1: BEANBAGS (RED

NAMETAG)

Materials:
bean

bags (1 per
person)
yarn hoops (made into
a circle shape 1 per
family)
6 empty large cans

Purpose:
Use

beanbags to help
develop body
awareness and
directional awareness

STATION 1: BEANBAGS

Balance

What to Do

beanbag on different
objects of your body
Try walking or jumping while
balancing the beanbag on
parts of your body
As a group, arrange cans to
make a short obstacle course
while balancing the beanbag.
Take the yarn loop and lay it
out on the floor in a circle and
toss your beanbags inside or
outside the circle.
Also try walking around in
inside of the loop while
pushing the beanbag with
your foot

STATION 2: SCARVES (YELLOW

NAMETAG)

Materials
Scarves
Box

Purpose

Explore

(2 per person)

concepts of
over, under, around, in
fron of, and behind.
Introduce basic shapes
and letters by making
movements.

STATION 2: SCARVES

What to do

Prior to meeting place all scarves

in box
Each person takes two scarves.
Hold a scarf in each hand and
move arms in different circular
motions. Changes directions and
make fast circles and slow circles
Move scarfs behind and over your
body using your body to
manipulate the scarfs direction.
Play catch with your child with
the scarfs.
Pretend to make different letters
and shapes with the scarves.
Return the scarves to the box
when complete

STATION 3: HOOPS (GREEN

NAMETAG)

Materials
6

24 hoops (if
possible, have 1 hoop
per family)
Beanbags

Purpose

Develop

large motor
skills and balance.

STATION 3: HOOPS

Place

What to Do

hoops in a straight line

so they are touching one
another.
Walk by placing one foot inside
the hoop and then try both
feet.
Jump once in first hoop, twice
in second, and so forth.
Try and figure out how many
ways you can move through
the hoops
Roll the hoops to each other or
throw the beanbags through
the hoops.
Try spinning the hoops
around waist, arms, and legs.

STATION 4: BALLS (BLUE NAMETAG)

Materials
Yarn

balls (1 per two

people)
6 12 rubber balls
6 clean, empty cans

Purpose

Increase

ball handling
skills by using both
small and large balls to
provide
developmentally
appropriate tasks for
small hands.

STATION 4: BALLS

Take

What to Do

turns rolling the balls

against a wall and then sit
in a circle and take turns
rolling the balls to each
other
Toss the balls to each other.
Try kicking the balls to
each other.
Form a single-file line and
pass the balls over your
head from the front of the
line to the back of the line
Roll the balls into the cans
as if your bowling.

STATION 5: CREATE AN OBSTACLE

COURSE (ORANGE NAMETAG)

Materials
Smooth

board to use as a
balance beam
24 hoops, two or three
Beanbag chairs or large pillows
Large boxes to make tunnels
Pieces of construction paper to
use as stepping stones
Tape
Paper and pencils

Purpose
Use

creativity to work
cooperatively to design an
obstacle course. After the design
is complete take the challenge of
completing the course

STATION 5: OBSTACLE COURSE

As

What to Do

a group, discuss
options for making an
obstacle course using
the materials.
Once decided upon,
work cooperatively to
construct obstacle
course.
Construct the obstacle
course and test it out.

SOCIAL TIME
Invite families for an after-meeting snack of
popcorn and juice.
Be sure to provide parents with a chance to
provide feedback by fillin gout a family meeting
evaluation sheet.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The cost of the event depends on the availability
of items at your center. Most of these items are
on hand in most centers. Majority of the items
can be purchased at a dollar store or some items
can even be hand made.
Each station is timed, but can be adjusted
accordingly. The event should last 1 hour and 30
mins.
Families are free to come and should remain
active, involved in each activity.
It is important to be very observant, encouraging,
and guide families to be successful at stations

THE END