Activities for Family Fitness Night
The activity night for young children with their parents includes three principal occupations. They are combined in a set of games with rewards for completing each of the stages (Clintus. tv, 2018). First, the participants will be offered to participate in a cycling race. Since it is a popular activity among families, children will love performing it with their parents. It will be a great cardio workout bringing positive emotions. Before the race, the visitors will do a few laps around the stadium. Participation is optional, and other activities will be offered to those families who are not fond of cycling.
Alongside the race, children will be encouraged to play football and volleyball. These two games will be an excellent complement to it, and they will help involve more people in the process. These options present an optimal solution to participants who either cannot or do not want to cycle. Moreover, it will be beneficial not only to their health but also for uniting families who will join the fun after the race.
Directions Facilitating the Activities
At the beginning of the event, parents should wait with their children at the start of the race so that coordinators could distribute bicycles among the participants. During the cycling part of the family night, spectators will be watching from the installed stands. Afterward, young sportsmen will join their families for playing volleyball and football. Volunteers willing to assist visitors with special needs and physical limitations should wait by the playground for instructions from the main coordinator. All participants should have comfortable shoes and sports clothes to play the games.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes for the Activities
The program of the night implies specific objectives for the participants. They primarily include uniting families, learning to work in teams not only with parents but also with other people, and, consequently, improving communication skills. As for the expected outcome of the proposed program, it relates to the motivation of visitors to join regular meetings with similar projects offered by leisure centers. In this way, the organizers will instill a healthy habit of exercise in families.
The Fine and Gross Motor Skills that Each Activity Targets
All activities in the course of the event are designed in such a way that all children will have an opportunity to acquire specific abilities. During the games, specifically football and volleyball, they will gain various fine motor skills, including catching, kicking, and throwing a ball. Cycling, will help in developing leg muscles, which, in turn, are responsible for one’s potential to run faster. For the children who cannot cycle yet, training wheels will be provided to learn the basics of this activity.
The Value of Movement and Play on the Development of Young Children
The importance of movement and play in the development of young children is defined by the tendencies of the present-day world. In the era of technologies, they spend more time with gadgets instead of participating in activities developing them physically. As a result, such a sedentary lifestyle leads to disturbances in sleep and health in general (Brown et al., 2016). However, there is a way to change it, and the activities proposed within the program are highly efficient in building posture, improving the immune system, and promoting good habits.
Activities for Children with Special Needs, Physical Limitations, or Developmental Delays
Even though the program includes such complicated tasks as cycling and physically active games, they will also be available to children with special needs and limitations. The specialists will be working with them on the playground and teaching them to throw and kick a ball. Instead of jogging, they will be encouraged to walk, and this stage will demonstrate to their parents the activities they can use while playing and their efficiency (Knupper, 2018). This way, the educational component of the project will address the needs of both adults and children.
References
Brown, H. E., Atkin, A. J., Panter, J., Wong, G., Chinapaw, M. J., & Van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2016). Family‐based interventions to increase physical activity in children: A systematic review, meta‐analysis and realist synthesis. Obesity Reviews, 17(4), 345-360.
Clintus.tv. (2018). Family fitness night at school! Family time fun! | Clintus.tv [Video file].
Knupper, K. R. (2018). Changing parental perceptions of children with disabilities physical capability in physical activity through a family fitness program. Web.