Water Aerobic Ideas for Kids

Want to find a fun way to get kids to exercise? Teach them water aerobics. Running a top-notch water aerobics class requires little planning, but you'll need some originality to catch the kids' interest---and to keep them excited about the class. Make sure the kids drink a lot of water both before and after exercising. They can get dehydrated without realizing it because the water generally will keep them cool and comfortable.

  1. Warming Up

    • Cardiovascular exercise is perfect for warming up before a water aerobics class. If the kids love swimming, let them swim laps to warm up before beginning the actual aerobic exercises. Otherwise, challenge them to race each other across the pool---by running. Sound easy? They'll think so, until they try it.

    Kicking

    • Kids usually love this exercise. Have them hold on to the side of the pool and kick to their hearts content. You may also offer them a kickboard to hold on to while they kick. Kicking will tone their hamstrings, buttocks and (indirectly) their abdominal muscles.

    The Side of the Pool

    • Kids love exercises that use the side of the pool---maybe because other exercises seem like they can be done either in or out of the pool with little visible difference. Take advantage of this tendency by trying either of the following three aerobic ideas (for confident swimmers only).

      Instruct the kids to put their backs to the side of the pool and reach their hands backward over their shoulders to grasp the wall. Then have them lift their legs up to form a 90-degree angle with their backs and then lower them again. Have them repeat this exercise several times.

      As a second activity, have them face the side of the pool and hold on to the edge. Then show them how to push down on the edge of the pool and shoot themselves upward so that most of their bodies are out of the pool. Instruct them to lower themselves slowly and repeat.

      This last activity is for those daredevils out there. Have the kids swing their legs up over the side of the pool, leaving the rest of their bodies floating on the water. When they're ready, have them dunk their heads into the pool (slowly, so as not to hit the wall) and then emerge. Some kids will find it easier to do this exercise if they hold their noses on the way down.