P.E. Party

What You Need:

• Sidewalk chalk
• Masking tape
• Jump ropes (enough for each kid)
• Beach towels
• Hula hoops
• Balloons
• Basketballs
• Yo-yos
• Goody bag stuffings: healthy snacks or small toys that encourage physical activity (bouncy balls, squirt blasters, jump ropes, etc.)

What You Do:

1. The party is pretty free-form. How you structure it is up to you. For activities, you can try:
   • using chalk or masking tape to set up a hopscotch court on your driveway
   • making a jump rope station
   • laying a towel on the grass for sit-ups
   • setting aside a corner for jumping jacks
   • establishing some wacky cool-off stations between cardio spots: hula-hooping, toe-touching, balloon blowing, basketball dribbling, yo-yoing
   • incorporating any equipment you already have, such as slides, basketball hoops and jungle gyms
2. Kids can earn a ticket for each completed activity and turn them in for goody bags. Stuff baggies with tube socks (these are cheap when purchased in bulk!), jump ropes, boxes of raisins, granola bars, balls, paddle balls, yo-yos, whistles, wristbands, and sunscreen.
3. There’s no point spoiling that wonderful workout with cake and ice cream... well, the kids probably won’t agree, but supplement the sweets with some healthy treats. Try a fresh fruit salad, cut-up veggies with dip, whole almonds and whole wheat crackers with cheese. Set up a make-your-own yogurt sundae bar: vanilla yogurt with serving bowls of crunchy granola, dried cranberries, raisins and blueberries, chopped nuts, and diced bananas and apples for toppings. Or, get out your blender and whip up fresh fruit and yogurt smoothies for everyone.

It may not bring back many memories of sixth period gym class, but who knows—it just might inspire you, too!