An active lifestyle and proper nutrition is essential for physical growth, as well as social, emotional, and intellectual development.
With childhood obesity rates on the rise, we came together with the mission of getting kids excited about physical activity and teaching them that it’s cool to move. Lifelong healthy habits can be fun. With a team of certified fitness experts, PopFit Kids created the “Fit Five” curriculum: cardio, strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance.
Below are some partner exercises children can do in pairs. We hope to inspire movement in children and engage them in the fundamentals of fitness!
Partner Exercises
Leg Raises
Person 1 lies down on the floor on his back while Person 2 stands over him. Person 1’s head should be close to the feet of Person 2.
Person 1 grabs the ankles of Person 2, contracts his abs, and brings his feet up toward Person 2’s shoulders.
Person 2 “catches” Person 1’s feet, and then gently pushes them forward toward the floor. Person 1 has to catch his feet before they hit the ground.
That’s one repetition. Perform 10 and then switch positions.
Plank Slaps
Get into a high-plank position head-to-head with your partner, keeping about a foot of space between the two of you.
Keeping your shoulders and hips square, slap right hands with each other. Then slap left hands with each other. Try using the alphabet with each slap and get from A to Z.
Modification: You can drop down to your knees to do the slaps.
Plank Hop-Overs
Person 1 holds a forearm plank while Person 2 jumps laterally over his partner’s feet. Perform 10 and then switch positions.
Crunches
Both partners will sit facing each other, knees bent. Person 1 will hook her feet around the ankles of Person 2 and vice versa.
Simultaneously, both people will lie back on the ground with their hands above their heads and then curl all the way up to a seated position. They high-five each other at the top of the movement.
Trainer tip: Try not to use momentum, but rather slowly and deliberately lift from and lower yourself to the ground using your core strength.
Maria Chatman and Mara Wedeck are co-founders of PopFit Kids, a children’s FUNctional Fitness company. Chatman, an avid fitness enthusiast, is an experienced consultant and fitness expert who has worked with large health and wellness management companies in New York. Wedeck’s background includes working with sustainable, organic, and healthy living companies.
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