Red Light, Green Light
Red Light, Green Light is a great way to get young children running! Simply jogging on a track can be boring for children, but Red Light, Green Light turns running into a fun game. It can also help children understand the meaning of the different colors on traffic lights.
You’ll need at least 3 players, but you can have as many players as you want as long as there’s room to run (whether in your yard or at the park). Decide which player is “it” first. This player will stand opposite the rest of the players (make sure there’s lots of space in between). The players at the other end should stand in a row at the starting line. To start, “it” calls “Green Light” so the players can start running toward “it.” But once “it” calls “Red Light,” the players must completely stop where they are–if the players don’t stop, they must return to the starting line. “It” should continue to call “Green Light” or “Red Light” as they choose until one of the players reaches them. The first player to reach the player who’s “it” wins, and the winner is “it” for the next game.
Where will you and your family play Red Light, Green Light?
Red Rover
Red Rover is a fun outdoors game for larger groups of children (at least 6). Children should divide into two equal teams (for example, with a group of 6, each team should have 3 players each) and stand about 30 feet apart. Since a lot of space is needed, children should play Red Rover outside. Each team should hold hands to form a “chain.” When the first team says “Red Rover, Red Rover, send (player’s name) on over!” the player on the opposite team whose name who was called should run toward the other team and try and break through their chain (children should only run through the linked hands). If the player cannot break through the chain, they must join that team’s chain. If the player does break through the chain, they return to their team and bring one player with them (one of the players whose chain was broken). Teams should alternate turns until all players are on one team.
Encourage children that while the goal of the game is to break through the chain that safety can still be maintained. Children should not hold hands too tightly or push the children trying to break through the chain. Likewise, children trying to break the chain should not run too forcefully to break the chain
Since Red Rover requires multiple players, playing can be a great opportunity for your children to invite their friends and neighborhood children to join them.
Who can your children play Red Rover with?
Preparing a Safe Turkey Dinner
If you are preparing for Thanksgiving, or just making a turkey, it is always good to follow food safety procedures and to make sure you know exactly what you’re doing. It is important to always use a food thermometer to make sure that the temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit so that bacteria that can cause foodborne sickness are reduced. There are lots of things that can determine the roasting time of the entire turkey which is how frozen it is, how the evenly the oven heats, if the turkey is stuffed, what type of a pan you use if it has a lid, and how the turkey fits in the pan. These things can all affect the time it takes for the turkey to cook and should be assessed prior to cooking.
When roasting a turkey, it is standard procedure to set the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The oven does not need to be preheated to do this. Another great and important tip is to make sure that the turkey is completely thawed before cooking it. A temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below is acceptable. Also, placing the turkey with the breast facing up on a flat wire rack is best for roasting a turkey. Putting it in a roasting pan that is 2-2½ inches deep is recommended. Make sure to tuck the tips of the wings under the shoulders of the turkey and add a half-cup of water to the bottom of the pan for moisture. You can put a tent of aluminum foil over the breast during the first hour or so and remove it or you can choose to wait until it is a golden brown to place the tent.
For the best practice of food safety, cooking the stuffing separate from the turkey is recommended. If you do choose to stuff your turkey, make sure that the stuffing has already been mixed together and do not stuff it too tightly. Additional time will be added for stuffed turkeys for these things to cook inside. To make sure the turkey is safe, make sure to measure the internal temperature and that it is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit. When you take it out of the oven, let the turkey cool for 20 minutes before carving the turkey or removing the stuffing from it. Enjoy your turkey this Thanksgiving knowing that it is food safe and good to eat!
Written by: Taylor Davis, EFNEP Volunteer
For more information on turkey temperatures and food safety visit this website:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/poultry-preparation/turkey-basics-safe-cooking/CT_Index
Movin’ and Groovin’
Children of all ages should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity. This can come in many forms, from swimming to a game of “Duck, Duck, Goose.” It may seem like toddlers and younger children don’t need as much exercise, but toddlers should get 30 minutes of structured and 60 minutes of unstructured activity daily. Structured activity should be adult-led, while unstructured is free play.
Dancing is great for all ages and can be an easy way for toddlers to be active. Toddlers love to move to the beat and sing along. Choose a fun song and get moving with your toddler. Young children and teens like to show off their moves too, so dancing can be activity for the whole family!
It’s important for toddlers to get physical activity everyday to help them grow and learn healthy habits early in life. While they may not be able to do everything older children and adults can, there are still many activities they can do. Also, you can modify activities to make them more age-appropriate. For example, rather than playing a structured game of soccer, older toddlers can still kick a ball around with you. To learn more about activity for your toddler, check out http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/active-toddler.html?WT.ac=p-ra.
What days will you dance with your kids this week?
Family Bike Riding
Riding bikes is fun exercise, especially as a family. No matter what age, children can enjoy riding a bike. Toddlers and preschoolers can ride tricycles, and children who haven’t learned how to ride a two-wheel bike can ride a bike with training wheels. You can also ride bikes in all kinds of settings–the driveway, bike lanes, and bike trails. For toddlers and preschoolers, the driveway or a sidewalk are safer options until they learn how to safely ride a bike with training wheels or a two-wheeler.
No matter what bike your child rides, safety is the first priority. Children (and adults!) should wear a properly-fitting helmet. Also, the bike should also be the right size so they can reach the pedals and the brakes. The bike should also be adjusted to fit your child’s height. They should be able to touch the ground with both feet when the seat is at its lowest position, and their legs should be slightly bent when their pedal is closest to the ground. Make bike rides a fun family outing! Older children who are more experienced with biking can join you for a long bike ride. Make sure you take water, sunscreen, and snacks!
For more bike riding tips and to learn how to teach your child how to ride a bike, visit http://www.parents.com/fun/sports/exercise/bicycle-riding/.
When will you get your children started with bike riding?