SPORTS AND GAMES DAY!
September through May on Mondays, 2:30-4:00pm at Houge Park.

Remember, back in the old days when we would grab some friends and go off to a local park or field and play baseball, or kick ball, or whatever and just have fun? In an effort to provide some fun for my 3 boys without paying for a league, to give them a chance to experience some different sports with their friends, just for fun, we started Sports and Games Day.; I'm not an expert on sports and rules, etc. We figure it out as we go, just like we did with our friends, and it's lots of fun!

So, Sports and Games Day is like a park day with the specific purpose of learning and playing in a very loosely organized manner. We started out with some carpet squares for bases and whatever equipment we had between us. We played baseball, kickball, soccer, flag football, basketball, had a bike day (my son rode his bike for the first time that day!) and this year we've been able to try out volleyball. We plan on trying our hand at tennis, maybe do some hiking, and oh yes, we swam in the warm weather too. The kids always look forward to Sports and Games Day. Though I started it, I have to say it is because of my buddy John that it works well, he "manages" and "referees" the field while I mainly send out announcements each week. This is our second year. You're welcome to join us.
Other ideas for fitness:  (remember to warm-up, stretch and cool down whenever you exercise)
Sports and Games Day Official Rule Book (under construction)
Ball Games Site
*SouthValley Oyama Karate -this is our old dojo.
*You can earn awards.
*Make up a fitness chart or mileage chart with points.  Once you've earned so many points have a reward at the end.
President's Challenge Remember the Presidential Physical Fitness Awards some of us did in school? Now homeschool families can do it too:)
*Use the boy scout merit badge book for fitness and "earn" a badge. (If you're not a scout I suppose you can earn
*Go for a walk (don't forget the dog...and a plastic bag:)
*Make a fitness course in your yard. I used to make my kids earn their popsicles* by finishing a
course I set up around the house. EXAMPLE: Touch your toes times, hop on one foot to the tree, climb the tree and jump down, run to the back yard, do a chin-up on the chin-up bar,............you get the drift.
*Take a hike at a local trail, bring along some friends too!
*Take advantage of local parks and the facilities they offer.
*Running CAN be fun!  Just don't call it running.  As long as your moving consistently you're getting the aerobic exercise that the heart needs.  We play games like, I used to chase my kids down the block and try to catch them (I never could). We still play tag on occasion.
You can run a block, walk a block. Pretend that you'll explode if you don't get to the corner before the count of ? (you can tell I have boys, can't you?) Here's a nice site for kids running. * Buy a trampoline (if you can afford it). I can hardly keep my kids off of ours.
*Ride bikes, maybe you can start a biking club. We've thought of it but haven't done it yet.
*When it's raining you can climb stairs, run in place, throw socks at each other, do push-ups, etc.
Remember...example is the best teacher!