Looking for creative ways to keep kids engaged, active, and learning during your holiday club?
These fun and interactive games not only entertain but also promote healthy eating habits and mental well-being. Incorporating these activities can make a lasting impact on how children approach nutrition and self-care, all while having a great time!
Here are 10 exciting games designed to get kids moving, thinking, and growing into healthier, happier individuals.
Healthy Food Bingo
Turn learning about nutrition into a fun challenge! With Healthy Food Bingo, kids get to recognize different fruits, vegetables, and healthy snacks. Bingo cards feature various food items, and as the names are called out, kids mark them off. The first to fill a row or column wins—and learns more about balanced meals!
Objective:
Teach kids about different types of fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods.
How to play:
Create bingo cards featuring different healthy foods. As the leader calls out food names or shows pictures, kids mark them off their cards. First one to complete a row or column wins.
Food Group Relay
In this energetic relay race, kids race to categorise foods into the correct food groups (fruits, veggies, proteins, etc.). Teams take turns, running to grab a food card and sorting it into the appropriate group. The game helps kids learn about nutrition while working together in a fast-paced, fun environment.
Objective:
Educate kids about the different food groups (fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, dairy).
How to play:
Divide kids into teams. Place a pile of food cards at one end of the room. Each child must run to the pile, pick a card, and categorise it into the correct food group. The fastest and most accurate team wins.
Mindful Eating Challenge
Promote mindful eating with this activity, which encourages kids to slow down and appreciate their food. Give each child a snack and guide them through a mindful eating experience. Ask them to observe the texture, flavor, and how it feels to eat slowly. It’s a fun and calming way to raise awareness about healthy eating habits.
Objective:
Encourage kids to be mindful about how they eat.
How to play:
Give each child a small snack like raisins or fruit slices. Guide them through a mindful eating process, asking them to notice the texture, taste, smell, and how it feels to eat slowly. Afterward, discuss how they feel compared to eating quickly.
Food Charades
Who said learning about food can’t be fun? In Food Charades, one child acts out a food while the rest of the group guesses what it is. Not only is this game a blast, but it also helps kids identify different types of foods and their health benefits.
Objective:
Promote understanding of different foods and their benefits.
How to play:
One child draws a food card and acts it out without speaking, while others guess what food it is. After guessing, discuss how that food contributes to a healthy diet.
Nutrient Scavenger Hunt
Hide cards representing key nutrients (like protein, vitamins, and fiber) around the play area. Kids search for them, then discuss what foods contain those nutrients and how they contribute to health. This hunt promotes learning through movement and exploration.
Objective:
Teach kids about essential nutrients.
How to play:
Hide cards around the play area, each representing a different nutrient (e.g., Vitamin C, Protein, Fibre). When a child finds a card, they bring it back and learn what foods contain that nutrient and how it helps the body.
Feel-Good Yoga
Yoga is a great way to teach kids about both physical and mental well-being. Lead a group yoga session with simple, kid-friendly poses that promote relaxation and mindfulness. Finish with breathing exercises to help them focus and unwind.
Objective:
Promote mental well-being through gentle physical activity.
How to play:
Lead the kids in simple yoga poses like Tree Pose, Downward Dog, and Butterfly Pose. Incorporate breathing exercises to help them relax and focus on their mental and emotional well-being.
Superfood Toss
Introduce kids to "superfoods" in this active game. Create baskets labeled with superfoods (like spinach, berries, and nuts) and have kids toss bean bags into the right baskets. As they play, teach them about the health benefits of each superfood, reinforcing nutrition education through play.
Objective:
Teach about "superfoods" and their benefits.
How to play:
Create a tossing game using baskets labeled with superfoods (e.g., blueberries, spinach, avocado). Kids take turns tossing bean bags into the baskets while learning the health benefits of each superfood.
Gratitude Circle
Build positive mental health with a Gratitude Circle, where kids take turns sharing something they’re grateful for. This activity fosters mindfulness, positivity, and emotional awareness, helping kids appreciate the good things in their lives.
Objective:
Promote positive mental health and emotional awareness.
How to play:
Sit in a circle, and each child takes turns sharing something they are grateful for. This game encourages mindfulness, gratitude, and positive thinking, which are key for mental well-being.
Feelings Freeze Dance
Combine movement with emotional awareness in this fun freeze dance game. As the music plays, kids dance freely, but when it stops, they freeze and strike a pose representing a specific emotion (like happy, excited, or calm). It’s a fun way to help children recognize and express their feelings.
Objective:
Help kids recognise and express their emotions.
How to play:
Play music, and kids dance until the music stops. When it freezes, they must strike a pose showing a specific emotion (e.g., happy, sad, excited). Discuss how they can manage their feelings in healthy ways.
Build a Balanced Plate
Using paper plates and food cutouts, kids “build” a balanced meal. They’ll learn about food portions and the importance of including all food groups in their diet. This game teaches them how to create nutritious meals in a hands-on, creative way.
Objective:
Educate on creating balanced meals.
How to play:
Provide kids with a paper plate and various food cutouts from different food groups. They must "build" a balanced meal by placing food in the correct portions on the plate. You can then explain how each component contributes to a healthy diet.
***BONUS*** Hand Out Our Healthy Heroes Magazine
Looking for an easy way to keep kids engaged with healthy habits even after the games are over? Our Healthy Heroes magazine is the perfect solution!
Packed with fun activities, puzzles, and educational content, this interactive magazine can be handed out during your holiday club sessions or taken home for more learning and play.
The magazine encourages children to actively think about nutrition, well-being, and fitness, helping them become the best version of themselves both at the club and at home. It’s an ideal addition to your holiday club resources, keeping the healthy momentum going long after the day ends!
These ideas not only entertain but also teach kids valuable lessons about nutrition and well-being - all while having fun!
Try them out at your holiday club to keep kids engaged, active, and learning, ensuring they walk away with healthy habits that last a lifetime.
Follow us at @TheWonderCompanyUK or get in touch hello@thewondercompany.co.uk or call 01943 725972
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