PAPITO Moves

Move together, screens off

Simple games that get parents and kids moving together, grouped by age and backed by public health guidance.

Ilustración de cuento infantil de una familia haciendo yoga junta en el patio trasero: papá y mamá en la postura del árbol, un niño pequeño manteniendo el equilibrio sobre una pierna y un niño con una prótesis en la pierna en la postura del perro boca abajo.

What the guidelines say

Ages 3 to 5

The CDC recommends that preschool-aged children be physically active throughout the day for healthy growth and development. WHO guidance for ages 3 and 4 calls for at least 3 hours of varied activity spread across the day, with at least 1 hour of it at moderate-to-vigorous intensity.

Ages 6 to 8

The CDC recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity every day. On at least 3 days a week, that should include activities that strengthen bones, like running and jumping, and muscles, like climbing.

How hard is moderate? On a scale where sitting is 0 and all-out effort is 10, the CDC describes moderate activity as about a 5 or 6 and vigorous activity as a 7 or 8. Kids breathe harder and their hearts beat faster.

Sources: CDC physical activity guidelines for children · WHO guidelines for children under 5 (via PAHO). PAPITO is not affiliated with the CDC or WHO. This is general information, not medical advice. If your child has a health condition, check with their pediatrician first.

Showing 18 of 18

Ages 3–5 · Indoors or out

Animal Walk Parade

ModerateAbout 10 minStrengthCoordination

You need: Nothing

  1. Call out an animal: bear crawl, frog jump, crab walk or flamingo stand
  2. Move like that animal together for about 30 seconds
  3. Let your child choose the next animal

Your part: Do every animal with them. The sillier, the better.

Safety: Clear a path away from furniture corners.

Ages 3–5 · Indoors

Balloon Keep-Up

LightAbout 10 minCoordination

You need: One balloon

  1. Tap a balloon to keep it off the floor
  2. Count taps together
  3. Try elbows, knees or heads

Your part: Count out loud and celebrate each new record.

Safety: Popped balloon pieces are a choking hazard; pick them up right away.

Ages 3–5 · Indoors

Cushion Obstacle Course

ModerateAbout 15 minBalanceCoordination

You need: Pillows, painter’s tape

  1. Lay out cushions to step on, a tape line to walk and a table to crawl under
  2. Run the course three times
  3. Change one station each round

Your part: Show each station first, then time their run.

Safety: Keep everything low to the floor and away from hard edges.

Ages 3–8 · Indoors or out

Dad Says

ModerateAbout 10 minCoordinationStrength

You need: Nothing

  1. Call out moves that start with Dad says: touch your toes, five jumping jacks, hop on one foot
  2. Moves without Dad says don’t count
  3. Swap leaders after a few rounds

Your part: Mix fast and slow moves, then let them be the caller.

Safety: Keep moves within what your child can do comfortably.

Ages 3–5 · Outdoors

Follow the Leader Walk

LightAbout 20 minHeart and lungsBalance

You need: Nothing

  1. Walk a loop around the block or park
  2. Take turns leading with giant steps, tiptoes or side steps

Your part: Let your child lead most of the way.

Safety: Hold hands near streets and driveways.

Ages 3–5 · Indoors

Freeze Dance

ModerateAbout 10 minHeart and lungsBalance

You need: Music

  1. Play a song and dance
  2. Pause the music and everyone freezes
  3. Hold the freeze for 5 seconds, then start again

Your part: Take a turn as DJ, then switch to dancer.

Safety: Go barefoot or in sneakers on smooth floors, not socks.

Ages 3–5 · Indoors or out

Jump the River

ModerateAbout 10 minBones (jumping)Strength

You need: Two ropes or tape

  1. Lay two lines a short distance apart
  2. Jump across the river
  3. Make it a little wider each round

Your part: Hold hands for the first few jumps if needed.

Safety: Land on soft ground with bent knees.

Ages 3–8 · Indoors

Living Room Dance Party

ModerateAbout 15 minHeart and lungs

You need: Music

  1. Pick three or four favorite songs
  2. Take turns choosing a move everyone copies

Your part: Bring your best moves.

Safety: Clear space and watch for furniture.

Ages 3–8 · Outdoors

Red Light, Green Light

VigorousAbout 10 minHeart and lungs

You need: Nothing

  1. Stand at a finish line
  2. Green light means run, red light means stop
  3. Whoever reaches you first calls the next round

Your part: Switch roles so your child calls the lights.

Safety: Play on grass or a clear, flat area.

Ages 3–8 · Indoors

Storytime Stretch

LightAbout 10 minFlexibilityBalance

You need: Nothing

  1. Tell a short story and act out each part: tall tree, stretching cat, mountain, starfish
  2. Hold each pose for a few slow breaths

Your part: Narrate and stretch right alongside them.

Safety: Never push a stretch to the point of pain.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Backyard Relay

VigorousAbout 20 minHeart and lungsAgility

You need: Cones or shoes, a ball

  1. Set up a short course: run, hop, then carry a ball
  2. Race the clock
  3. Try to beat your best time

Your part: Time each run and keep track of improvements.

Safety: Warm up with an easy jog first.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Hopscotch

ModerateAbout 15 minBones (jumping)Balance

You need: Chalk, a small stone

  1. Draw squares numbered 1 to 10
  2. Toss the stone and hop through, skipping its square
  3. Pick up the stone on the way back

Your part: Play a round yourself. It’s harder than it looks.

Safety: Use a flat sidewalk or driveway away from traffic.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Jump Rope Challenge

VigorousAbout 10 minBones (jumping)Coordination

You need: Jump rope

  1. Count jumps in a row
  2. Try two feet, then one foot
  3. Try a running jump

Your part: Swing a long rope with a partner for easier jumping.

Safety: Jump in sneakers on a flat, non-slip surface.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Pass and Shoot

VigorousAbout 20 minHeart and lungsCoordination

You need: A ball, two goal markers

  1. Pass back and forth ten times
  2. Take turns shooting at a goal made from shoes

Your part: Play goalie and let a few in.

Safety: Use a soft ball on hard ground.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Playground Climb

ModerateAbout 20 minStrength

You need: Playground

  1. Try monkey bars, climbing walls and ladders
  2. Set a small goal, like crossing three bars

Your part: Spot from below and cheer every try.

Safety: Check that equipment isn’t too hot and the ground below is soft.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Scooter or Bike Loop

ModerateAbout 30 minHeart and lungsBalance

You need: Bike or scooter, helmet

  1. Pick a safe loop
  2. Ride it together
  3. Finish with a slow race where the last one across wins

Your part: Ride alongside or walk and jog with them.

Safety: Always wear a helmet and ride away from traffic.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Shadow Tag

VigorousAbout 15 minHeart and lungsAgility

You need: Sunshine

  1. Instead of tagging people, step on their shadow
  2. Whoever’s shadow is stepped on becomes it

Your part: Play hard enough to keep them running.

Safety: In hot weather, play early or late in the day and take water breaks.

Ages 6–8 · Indoors or out

Wheelbarrow Walk

ModerateAbout 10 minStrength

You need: Nothing

  1. Your child walks on their hands while you hold their legs
  2. Go a few steps, rest, then repeat

Your part: Hold above the knees and move slowly.

Safety: Stop if wrists hurt and keep distances short.

PAPITO Moves

Move together, screens off

Simple games that get parents and kids moving together, grouped by age and backed by public health guidance.

Storybook illustration of a family doing yoga together in a backyard: dad and mom in tree pose, a toddler balancing on one leg, and a boy with a prosthetic leg in downward dog.

What the guidelines say

Ages 3 to 5

The CDC recommends that preschool-aged children be physically active throughout the day for healthy growth and development. WHO guidance for ages 3 and 4 calls for at least 3 hours of varied activity spread across the day, with at least 1 hour of it at moderate-to-vigorous intensity.

Ages 6 to 8

The CDC recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity every day. On at least 3 days a week, that should include activities that strengthen bones, like running and jumping, and muscles, like climbing.

How hard is moderate? On a scale where sitting is 0 and all-out effort is 10, the CDC describes moderate activity as about a 5 or 6 and vigorous activity as a 7 or 8. Kids breathe harder and their hearts beat faster.

Sources: CDC physical activity guidelines for children · WHO guidelines for children under 5 (via PAHO). PAPITO is not affiliated with the CDC or WHO. This is general information, not medical advice. If your child has a health condition, check with their pediatrician first.

Showing 18 of 18

Ages 3–5 · Indoors or out

Animal Walk Parade

ModerateAbout 10 minStrengthCoordination

You need: Nothing

  1. Call out an animal: bear crawl, frog jump, crab walk or flamingo stand
  2. Move like that animal together for about 30 seconds
  3. Let your child choose the next animal

Your part: Do every animal with them. The sillier, the better.

Safety: Clear a path away from furniture corners.

Ages 3–5 · Indoors

Balloon Keep-Up

LightAbout 10 minCoordination

You need: One balloon

  1. Tap a balloon to keep it off the floor
  2. Count taps together
  3. Try elbows, knees or heads

Your part: Count out loud and celebrate each new record.

Safety: Popped balloon pieces are a choking hazard; pick them up right away.

Ages 3–5 · Indoors

Cushion Obstacle Course

ModerateAbout 15 minBalanceCoordination

You need: Pillows, painter’s tape

  1. Lay out cushions to step on, a tape line to walk and a table to crawl under
  2. Run the course three times
  3. Change one station each round

Your part: Show each station first, then time their run.

Safety: Keep everything low to the floor and away from hard edges.

Ages 3–8 · Indoors or out

Dad Says

ModerateAbout 10 minCoordinationStrength

You need: Nothing

  1. Call out moves that start with Dad says: touch your toes, five jumping jacks, hop on one foot
  2. Moves without Dad says don’t count
  3. Swap leaders after a few rounds

Your part: Mix fast and slow moves, then let them be the caller.

Safety: Keep moves within what your child can do comfortably.

Ages 3–5 · Outdoors

Follow the Leader Walk

LightAbout 20 minHeart and lungsBalance

You need: Nothing

  1. Walk a loop around the block or park
  2. Take turns leading with giant steps, tiptoes or side steps

Your part: Let your child lead most of the way.

Safety: Hold hands near streets and driveways.

Ages 3–5 · Indoors

Freeze Dance

ModerateAbout 10 minHeart and lungsBalance

You need: Music

  1. Play a song and dance
  2. Pause the music and everyone freezes
  3. Hold the freeze for 5 seconds, then start again

Your part: Take a turn as DJ, then switch to dancer.

Safety: Go barefoot or in sneakers on smooth floors, not socks.

Ages 3–5 · Indoors or out

Jump the River

ModerateAbout 10 minBones (jumping)Strength

You need: Two ropes or tape

  1. Lay two lines a short distance apart
  2. Jump across the river
  3. Make it a little wider each round

Your part: Hold hands for the first few jumps if needed.

Safety: Land on soft ground with bent knees.

Ages 3–8 · Indoors

Living Room Dance Party

ModerateAbout 15 minHeart and lungs

You need: Music

  1. Pick three or four favorite songs
  2. Take turns choosing a move everyone copies

Your part: Bring your best moves.

Safety: Clear space and watch for furniture.

Ages 3–8 · Outdoors

Red Light, Green Light

VigorousAbout 10 minHeart and lungs

You need: Nothing

  1. Stand at a finish line
  2. Green light means run, red light means stop
  3. Whoever reaches you first calls the next round

Your part: Switch roles so your child calls the lights.

Safety: Play on grass or a clear, flat area.

Ages 3–8 · Indoors

Storytime Stretch

LightAbout 10 minFlexibilityBalance

You need: Nothing

  1. Tell a short story and act out each part: tall tree, stretching cat, mountain, starfish
  2. Hold each pose for a few slow breaths

Your part: Narrate and stretch right alongside them.

Safety: Never push a stretch to the point of pain.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Backyard Relay

VigorousAbout 20 minHeart and lungsAgility

You need: Cones or shoes, a ball

  1. Set up a short course: run, hop, then carry a ball
  2. Race the clock
  3. Try to beat your best time

Your part: Time each run and keep track of improvements.

Safety: Warm up with an easy jog first.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Hopscotch

ModerateAbout 15 minBones (jumping)Balance

You need: Chalk, a small stone

  1. Draw squares numbered 1 to 10
  2. Toss the stone and hop through, skipping its square
  3. Pick up the stone on the way back

Your part: Play a round yourself. It’s harder than it looks.

Safety: Use a flat sidewalk or driveway away from traffic.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Jump Rope Challenge

VigorousAbout 10 minBones (jumping)Coordination

You need: Jump rope

  1. Count jumps in a row
  2. Try two feet, then one foot
  3. Try a running jump

Your part: Swing a long rope with a partner for easier jumping.

Safety: Jump in sneakers on a flat, non-slip surface.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Pass and Shoot

VigorousAbout 20 minHeart and lungsCoordination

You need: A ball, two goal markers

  1. Pass back and forth ten times
  2. Take turns shooting at a goal made from shoes

Your part: Play goalie and let a few in.

Safety: Use a soft ball on hard ground.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Playground Climb

ModerateAbout 20 minStrength

You need: Playground

  1. Try monkey bars, climbing walls and ladders
  2. Set a small goal, like crossing three bars

Your part: Spot from below and cheer every try.

Safety: Check that equipment isn’t too hot and the ground below is soft.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Scooter or Bike Loop

ModerateAbout 30 minHeart and lungsBalance

You need: Bike or scooter, helmet

  1. Pick a safe loop
  2. Ride it together
  3. Finish with a slow race where the last one across wins

Your part: Ride alongside or walk and jog with them.

Safety: Always wear a helmet and ride away from traffic.

Ages 6–8 · Outdoors

Shadow Tag

VigorousAbout 15 minHeart and lungsAgility

You need: Sunshine

  1. Instead of tagging people, step on their shadow
  2. Whoever’s shadow is stepped on becomes it

Your part: Play hard enough to keep them running.

Safety: In hot weather, play early or late in the day and take water breaks.

Ages 6–8 · Indoors or out

Wheelbarrow Walk

ModerateAbout 10 minStrength

You need: Nothing

  1. Your child walks on their hands while you hold their legs
  2. Go a few steps, rest, then repeat

Your part: Hold above the knees and move slowly.

Safety: Stop if wrists hurt and keep distances short.