According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children ages 3 through 5 years need to be active throughout the day, while youth ages 6 through 17 need to be moving for 60 minutes every day.
To help kids meet the daily recommended amount of movement, it is good to keep in mind that physical activity doesn’t have to be limited to sports. As a mother of an active 8-year-old, I’ve been surprised by how effective certain shows have been in inspiring my child to get moving.
Much like “Legends of the Hidden Temple” and “Double Dare” of the 80s and 90s, there are plenty of shows today demonstrating fun ways for kids to get their bodies moving. Here are nine example shows, along with ideas on how to incorporate physical activity after viewing.
1. ‘Floor Is Lava’
Kids have been playing the game The Floor Is Lava both indoors and outside for decades, but Netflix took it to the next level when they turned it into a funny obstacle show kids and their grown-ups can watch together. “My son loves ‘Floor is Lava’,” says Kate Lewis, a mother of two from Virginia Beach, Virginia. “After watching the first season, he created driveway obstacle courses and has been playing it in the house with his sister all the time.”
Ready to get more creative with your game? There is an award-winning The Floor Is Lava box game available for kids and grown-ups to play together IRL.
Rating: TV-PG
Watch: “Floor is Lava” on Netflix
2. ‘American Ninja Warrior Junior’
“American Ninja Warrior Junior” is a sports competition reality show where children ages 9-14 race through an intense obstacle course that tests their speed, strength and agility. The junior version of the popular show inspired Michelle Wanders’ children because they could watch kids their own age working hard and reaching their goals.
“Kids just like them are competing on courses that look like the adults’ ones,” says Wanders, a mother of two boys based in Spring Branch, Texas. Her kids went on to take a ninja PE class at their local ninja gym and competed in the Kids Obstacle Challenge after watching this show. Here are some additional obstacle course ideas for kids of all ages.
Rating: TV-PG
Watch: “American Ninja Warrior Junior” on Peacock
3. ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse: Cat-Tastic Dance Along’
I’ve witnessed little ones dance along for over an hour to videos from Gabby’s Dollhouse. The dance-along element of the popular Netflix preschool show about cats and crafts and magic has really caught on, taking on a life of its own. In addition to the videos on YouTube, there’s a one-hour Gabby’s Dollhouse: Cat-Tastic Dance Along video that you can rent or buy.
Rating: TV-Y
Watch: “Gabby’s Dollhouse: Cat-Tastic Dance Along” on Microsoft.com
4. ‘Blippi’
“I have a 2-year-old who is now so into baseball and basketball because of the episodes ‘Blippi’ did at Chase field with the Diamondbacks and the one featuring a Harlem Globetrotter,” says Lindsay Newhard, a mother of two from Phoenix. “‘Blippi’ has other episodes on soccer and play places and trampoline parks as well. After watching ‘Blippi,’ my boys play basketball and hit off the tee in the backyard all the time!”
Rating: Unrated, recommended for kids ages 2-7
Watch: “Blippi” on YouTube
5. ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Animated Series
This classic series with a worldwide following inspired my 8-year-old to request martial arts lessons. He is so dedicated when practicing his forms and is taking it very seriously. Moreover, the emphasis on flexibility, balance, breath control and power seems to be really having a focusing effect.
Rating: TV-Y7
Watch: “Avatar: The Last Airbender” on Netflix
6. ‘Cosmic Kids Yoga’
“I would turn on this show for my daughter when she was 2-3 years old to try and get some energy out and help her practice stretching and following along,” says Nicole Song, a mom of two based in Chandler, Arizona, who wishes there are more shows that motivate kids to move. “The instructor makes it fun because each video has a different theme like ‘Frozen,’ ‘Moana’ and walking through the jungle.” When your child is ready, try a local kids’ yoga class.
Rating: Unrated, recommended for kids ages 3-9
Watch: “Cosmic Kids Yoga” on YouTube
7. ‘Paradise Run’
Kid contestants compete in a scavenger hunt in Hawaii, diving into pools and completing accessible puzzles and obstacles along the way that challenge them physically and mentally. This show provides kids with inspiration for ways to get creative in the swimming pool.
Rating: TV-G
Watch: “Paradise Run” on Paramount Plus
8. ‘The Ultimate Beastmaster’
For kids who can’t get enough obstacle course excitement, “The Ultimate Beastmaster” is like the Olympics of this category. Each of the competitors’ bios highlight their countries, which include Mexico, Japan, Korea, Australia, Germany, France, U.S. and more. The show hosts speak in different languages, which is a bonus international lesson for the kids, including global goodwill and friendly competition. After watching the show, we’ve set up our own simple DIY obstacle courses using household items like bulk paper towels and toilet rolls to knock down, cereal boxes to hop over and more.
Rating: TV-PG
Watch: “The Ultimate Beastmaster” on Netflix
9. ‘GoNoodle’
I admit I’ve done countless “GoNoodle” video exercises with my kiddo, especially whenever going outside wasn’t an option. There’s a wide variety of content at “GoNoodle” including mindfulness, dance-along and silly camp-song-like activity videos. I love the diverse performers, the bite-sized lengths and the fact that it is available also as an app.
Rating: Unrated, recommended for kids ages 5-12
Watch: “GoNoodle” on GoNoodle.com
