A few months ago, I bought an elliptical machine for home. I have been using it daily. My kiddos, 5 and 8 years old, are fascinated by this for some reason. I have been surprised to see that they are starting to get interested in exercise by being exposed to my new habit. They jump on and use it whenever it’s free, and it just cracks me up. Although they can get exercise by simply running around, riding their bikes, or climbing around on a play structure: their new interest prompted me to research fun exercise videos for them. There is a lot to explore out there. Here is a list of some of the videos I found that my kids love. 

Walk 15 Family Mile with Nick– This one is good because it involves the whole family. It is centered around walking/taking a family walk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7OzRLb2aKY.

Kids Morning Workout– I like this one because the characters are animated and seem simple to understand for kiddos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0dkwlrC6ok.

Tiny the T-Rex- A Cosmic Kids Yoga Adventure– We have done many videos with this instructor. It’s obvious she works with kids because she is very engaging. This video is a good one for little guys. It combines kid-friendly yoga and storytelling.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnlDBKD2S78.

Super Fun Kids Workout H.I.I.T. (High-Intensity Interval Training) 8-Minute Video– This one is great because it’s hosted and taught by kids themselves. They focus on 30 seconds of “high intensity” exercises followed by 30 seconds of rest through 8 exercises. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fomkRYcl_mo.  

Farm Animal Exercise Indoor Workout for Kids– A great instructor, a farm background, and animal noises have made this video popular in our house. They did a good job of keeping the kids engaged in this exercise.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHJ2fW3iJVE.

The Just Dance channel on YouTube– I had a hard time picking just one video on this channel. There are dance workout videos for popular songs from the past year and this year, like “Senorita” by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello and “Juice” by Lizzo (and of course, the lyrics are edited to be kid-friendly). My 8-year-old daughter absolutely loves these songs, so I can’t wait to do these videos with her. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChIjW4BWKLqpojTrS_tX0mg.

7 in 7 Kids Full-Body Strength and Core Workout– This one looks pretty tough but says it’s for kids. The video does 7 different exercises: 40 seconds of exercise, twenty seconds of rest, and then onto the next move. Exercises are jumping jacks, superman pose, push-ups, among others. I’d say this is for older kiddos. I don’t know how much my kids would like this one, but pre-teens/teens may like it for core strengthening. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0DuHnxnH14.

Awesome Indoor Obstacle Course for Kids– I can’t speak for all kids, but I can tell you that my kids absolutely love watching people do obstacle courses and always want to do one themselves. This video on YouTube shows a 3-minute obstacle course that kids can do at home. We’re definitely trying this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKF6iPL3kTc.

Jumping! Exercise for Kids- This video is 18 minutes of various jumping and bouncing exercises. Right away, the instructor recommends a lot of space and a bottle of water close by. It looks like it’ll be pretty tough, but we all know kids love jumping, so this may be fun for them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXfOJDtdTQA.

Characters and Dance– Improvised dance exercise for school children- This video is short and sweet. It shows a classroom with a teacher leading a group on acting out different professions through dance/exercise. They show a painter, an exerciser, a musician, and others. You could use their examples or make up your own. A fun way to be silly while getting some exercise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDBAB1iwt5Q.

Trolls: Can’t Stop The Feeling- GoNoodle– I have heard many good things about GoNoodle from teachers and fellow families. When you Google: kids exercise videos, this one seems to be one of the most popular. It shows two kids dancing to “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake from the movie “Trolls.” The dance moves seem pretty simple but would provide a good, quick workout. A fun way to burn some energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhfkYzUwYFk.

Kids Workout 1 for Beginners– I thought this video would be good to include because each family will have their own comfort level regarding exercise. Some kids grow up in families that include parents who run every day, while others are in families with parents who do not exercise regularly or at all. This video is a good starting point and says it is “for all ages.” A good place to start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_A_HjHZxfI.

There is plenty of research to support the idea that exercise is good for kids in many ways. There are physical benefits like building strength and mental benefits like building self-esteem and improving concentration. Not to mention, exercising as a family is a great way to spend time. It’s good to get outside and get out for walks, but many fun activities can be done in the home as well—best of luck to you all in finding an exercise that your kiddos enjoy.