Fun Running Activities & Games for Kids: Warm-ups, Races & Cool-downs

Get kids moving and having fun with these simple running adventures! Includes easy warm-ups, exciting games like Animal Races & Red Light/Green Light, gentle sprints, and cool-down stretches perfect for young children in parks or backyards.

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Ready, Set, Go! Fun Running Adventures

Materials Needed:

  • Safe Open Space (like a backyard, park, or large indoor room free of obstacles)
  • Cones, small toys, or chalk (optional, for marking start/finish lines or paths)
  • Water Bottle
  • Comfortable clothes and running shoes

Let's Get Started! (Warm-up - 5 minutes)

Before we run super fast, let's warm up our amazing bodies!

  1. Wiggle Worms: Wiggle your whole body like a wiggly worm on the ground.
  2. Tall Trees: Stand tall and reach your arms way up high like tree branches. Gently sway side to side.
  3. Toe Touches: Try to touch your toes! Keep your legs mostly straight. It's okay if you can't reach yet!
  4. Marching Time: March in place, lifting your knees high like a soldier.

Running Fun Time! (Main Activities - 15-20 minutes)

Now it's time to RUN! Remember to look where you are going!

  • Animal Races: Let's pretend to be animals! Can you run fast like a cheetah? Hop like a kangaroo? Waddle like a penguin? Gallop like a horse? Make the animal sounds too!
  • Red Light, Green Light: When I say "Green Light!" run fast! When I say "Red Light!" FREEZE! (You can add "Yellow Light" for walking slowly).
  • Follow the Leader: Follow me! We will run in curvy lines, zig-zags, slow, and fast! (Take turns being the leader).
  • Quick Sprints: Let's see how fast we can run from this spot to that spot (use markers or landmarks if you have them). Ready, set, GO! Let's do it 3 times with rests in between.
  • Run and Tag (Gentle): A gentle game of tag. The goal is just light taps, focusing on running and dodging.

Cooling Down Our Engines (Cool-down - 5 minutes)

Wow, great running! Let's cool down our bodies.

  1. Slow Motion Walk: Walk very, very slowly around our space.
  2. Deep Breaths: Take big breaths in through your nose (smell the flowers!) and blow out slowly through your mouth (blow out the candles!).
  3. Gentle Stretches: Let's sit down and stretch our legs again, reaching gently for our toes.
  4. Water Break: Time for some water! Running makes us thirsty.

Great job running today! You were super speedy and had lots of fun moving your body!