Fun childhood games that’ll get you fit

Remember when you didn’t have to plan fitness into your week and exercise was just another word for adventure. Getting hot, sweaty and a little breathless was all part of the course because every activity was fun. Forget labels around fitness and exercise and rewind to your childhood when games were simply that – time spent playing with friends.

From rounders to hula hooping, here are the fun childhood games that’ll get you fit. Go on, embrace the kid in you.

Hula hoop

Remember those countless hours working on your hula hoop technique? Well did you know that those small movements were just as effective on your waistline as performing hundreds of sit-ups. What’s more, you’ll loosen up your hips and tone the muscles in your lower back and stomach simply while trying to keep the hula hoop up. And it’s not just for the waist – you can also have a go at different techniques using your arms and legs. You can pick up a hula hoop in sport shops or try a class at gyms and health clubs across the country.

Skipping

Don’t be fooled by what you remember in the playground – skipping is harder it looks. Then again, the results from skipping make the challenge worthwhile. From toning the muscles in your legs and bum to improving your balance, not to mention the excellent cardio workout it gives, skipping is a cost-effective way to get fit fast. All you need is a basic sports rope and a bit of patience. Try to do 30 seconds at first with 30 seconds rest; then build up to a minute. To add variation, try jumping on both feet and then alternating between your left and right legs.

Trampolining

Not only is trampolining great fun, but it’s another great workout for your heart and lungs. What’s more, it’s pretty kind to your joints because the spring bed absorbs much of the impact. Once you’ve got your balance and are feeling confident, aim for a 30 minutes of bouncing action with breaks in-between. Why not add a few moves such as a tuck jump, pike jump, straddle or even a seat drop? Then you can start building your own routine. If you don’t have room for a trampoline at home or are unable to attend a class nearby, you could always buy a rebounder. There are now plenty of rebound classes available on DVD or YouTube for you to follow and make the most of this low-impact but great cardio workout.

Rounders

Team games are not only great exercise; they are also sociable affairs. So grab a bunch of friends and challenge them to one of our favourite games as a kid – rounders. With short sharp bursts of running coupled by the toning movements of batting, throwing and catching, rounders is a brilliant all-over body workout. The only downside is that you’ll need around 10 people (or five-a-side) to host a really good game. Aim to play for at least an hour to burn off those calories.

Rave it up

Can you feel it? The music we mean. Let inhibitions go and get dancing to burn off the calories and tone up without even noticing that you’re exercising. When it comes to dancing there are no rules, just get moving like you did as a teenager. You could join a local dance class, or if you’re shy about throwing some moves, close the curtains, crank the music up and dance like you just don’t care in your living room.

Frisbee

Test your hand-eye coordination skills and get your heart pumping by playing a game of old school frisbee. You’ll work on your agility as well as your ability to catch and throw, which will tone the back of your arms and shoulders. All you need is a Frisbee, which is sold in most children’s shops or supermarkets come the summertime.