9 Simple Activities for Getting the Wiggles Out of Kids

If you’re kids have a lot of energy, or if you’re trying to calm them down for an activity, bed-time, or instruction, you can do a wiggle activity. There are simple ways of getting the wiggles out of kids so that they are more likely to give you their undivided attention.

Wiggles and Kids

Sometimes as adults we can forget how hard it was as a child to sit still. We can also sometimes just expect children to sit still. (I often forget to remember my kids aren’t adults yet). If your kids are anything like mine, they have an endless battery of energy. They are fireballs. I WISH I had their energy.

It can be hard to get them to calm down in order for them to get what you need done. We’ve done this before dinner, brushing teeth, school, church lesson, or getting them to listen to my instructions.

Often right before I need my kids to give me their attention or sit still, we will do a wiggle activity. It almost always helps, and it usually buys me about 10 minutes of their time.

Why do a Wiggle Activity

There are many reasons, I think, that this helps and is beneficial. Whether any of this is scientific, I know not. BUT it is what I have observed.

Bring it to their level

Kids love when an adult does something like a kid. It makes my kids so happy to see me dance around like a monkey. I am happily doing something that they LOVE, and it makes them feel validated, accepted, and loved. This can be applied in other aspects of their lives as well. This article briefly touches on this concept.

Kids have a lot of energy

Kids really do have a lot of energy! Sometimes it is hard for them to control it. Giving them an outlet for that energy is SO helpful for them. Then, when asked to be still, they have a little less energy running through them.

More likely to follow-through

I’ve noticed that when I give them a little bit of time, they are more willing to give me some time and follow through on what I am asking them to do. It’s a win-win for everyone.

They look forward to it

My kids start looking forward to doing certain things because they know there will be a wiggle activity involved. Again, more likely to do what you need. (This is not a constant thing, just sometimes. I haven’t found some magic voo doo or anything, haha)

I have thought about trying this right before we go into the grocery store to see if it works. Now I’ll give you some ideas of what we’ve done to get the wiggles out of kids. I’ve done these activities with as young as two, not all, but most of them, and as old as 7.

Getting the Wiggles out of Kids

Dice Game

One great way, and is actually our most common one, is to play, what we like to call, the dice game. Grab a dice and then, with the kids, assign an action to each side of the dice. For example:

1= 1 hop
2= 2 squats
3= 3 Marches
4= 4 Jumping Jacks
5= 5 duck walks
6= 6 circles around the room

I let the kids get involved in picking the actions. We all have a great time. It takes about 5-10 minutes. You can make it last as short or as long as you like.

Follow the Leader

A good ole classic game of follow the leader. This can be done literally anywhere. I let the kids take turn being the leader. When you’re the leader, make sure you are super crazy to burn that energy off.

Freeze Dance

Start playing a song on your phone and then have them freeze when you stop the music. With each round you can tell them to dance a certain way. Dance like a monkey, wiggle like a worm, or hop like a bunny.

Sing an Active Song

There are several songs you can sing that require actions, or make up your own actions as you go. Some of the ones we like to do are:

Do as I’m Doing (do an action, like rolling your arms, while singing the song and then do it high, low, fast and slow)

Do as I’m Doing, follow, follow me
Do as I’m Doing, follow, follow me
I can do it high or low
I can do it fast or slow
Do as I’m doing, follow, follow me
Do as I’m doing, follow, follow me

Once I was a Snowman

Once I was a snowman, snowman, snowman
Once I was a snowman, tall, tall, tall
In the sun he melted, melted, melted
In the sun he melted, small, small, small

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Knees and Toes
Knees and Toes
Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Eyes, ears, mouth, and nose

The kids love these, and they are so simple. You can do them anywhere. When my kids are getting frustrated in the car, we break out the songs.

Pretend to be Animals

What kid doesn’t like to pretend to be an animal? They love it! Start calling out animals and have them act like that animal. What would they sound like? Walk like? Do they climb, crawl, run, or jump?

Stretching

This might seem little, but my kids love stretching with me. You can make it fun. Ask them to try and touch their toes, reach up as high as they can in the sky, bend over and twist, or get in a runner’s stance. There are so many great ways to get them moving.

Hot and Cold

Play a quick game of hot and cold. Hide something really fast and then see if they can find it by getting clues of hot, warm, cold, and freezing.

Punch the Pillow

My son loves to punch. I don’t know where he learned it, but when he gets excited, he punches. This is something my daughter learned the hard way. We have been working with him. When I see he has all this pent up energy, I pull out a pillow and ask him to go to town. He punches it like crazy. I might mix it up and try to move around with the pillow. He loves it, and he feels like he has a reliable place to throw his punches.

Nursery Rhymes

You could recite nursery rhymes. This is a lot like singing, but slightly different. Some of our favorites are

The Cow Jumped over the Moon
Jack and Jill
Mary had a Little Lamb

You can have the children act out the lyrics as you say them.

Conclusion

I love these activities for getting the wiggles out of kids because they are super simple and can be done just about anywhere. So, if your kids are getting fussy, or too energetic in a quiet place, or your need their undivided attention. Try one of these wiggle activities. You might be surprised by how well it works.

9 Simple Activities for Getting the Wiggles Out of Kids

9 Simple Activities for Getting the Wiggles Out of Kids

Wiggles and Kids