After School Scooting Adventure Guide

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Research shows that children are spending half as much time outside as they did 20 years ago – and much more time doing "inside" activities (1),  and according to a study done by C.S Mott Children's Hospital, childhood obesity is the number one concern of parents today. Get your kiddos outside and active each and every day! What better way to spend your after school hours than on a scooter? Help your child get rid of the wiggles with these fun after school activities inspired by our Micro friends! As always, Micro Kickboard recommends a helmet and safety gear when riding scooters.

 

1. Scooting Obstacle course: 

Set up Micro Cones to create a fun zig-zag obstacle course. Better yet, race through to see who can do it in the least amount of time! Micro Kickboard's lean-to-steer steering allows for deep curving and carving - fun for all ages and great for teaching balance and gross motor skills!

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2. Capture the Flag: 

Outside in your garden, local park, school playground or local village hall – anywhere with a safe, flat, scooter-friendly surface.

 You will need:

  1. 8 or more players (teams must be even)
  2. Flags – (I per player) these can be made from rags or old cloths but it’s best to have a different colour for each team
  3. Mid-way marker (string or an agreed point between e.g.two trees) in the middle of the playing area

The object of the game is for one team to capture all the other team’s flags. The only way to do this is to scooter into enemy territory and snatch a flag before you are tagged by a player from the opposite team.

If a player manages to grab a flag, they must quickly make their way back to their own territory – the flag becomes their ‘booty’.

If players are tagged before they reach the line however, they are in trouble! They become a ‘prisoner of war’ and must stand behind the opposing team’s territory until they are tagged free by a member of their team.

You can try tactics such as raiding parties, where several of you make a dash across the line together and hopefully not only capture a flag but, with any luck, free some prisoners! The first team to capture all the opponents’ flags wins!

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3. Red Light Green Light

This is a fun racing game – good for all ages AND you can practice your scooting skills. Listening to directions and learning to start and stop on command is just as important as speed as the player who moves the least may actually win!

Choose a tree or wall where the person chosen to be the traffic light can stand. Use stones or sticks to mark a starting line – about 20 to 30 feet from the ‘Traffic Light’.

The game begins when the person chosen to be the Traffic Light turns their back. All the other players (potential Traffic Offenders!) line up on their scooters along the starting line. When the traffic light shouts ‘Green’ that’s the signal for the players to move forward as quickly as possible on their scooters.

At any moment the Traffic Light will call ‘Red Light!’ and turns around to check quickly on the other players. Everyone else must stop dead in their tracks. If the Traffic Light sees anyone moving, that player is sent back to the starting line. Once all Traffic Offenders have been caught the games continues with a call of ‘Green Light!’ The first player to reach and ‘tag’ the Traffic Light is the winner and becomes the new Traffic Light.

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4. Cops and Robbers:

  1. Gather the children outside, and divide them into two groups - the "Cops" and the "Robbers."
  2. Choose an object for the robbers to try to "steal."
  3. To win the game, the robbers must complete their goal of stealing or touching this object and escaping from the cops.
  4. The cops can tag the robbers to remove them from the game or send them to jail.

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5. Polo

Enjoy the idea of polo, but sub a real pony for a Scooterhead! Set up two teams of at least two players. Assign areas as "goals" and have each team go for the ball with their mallets to score points in their goals. The first team to reach 5 points wins!

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6. Jousting 

Grab a few foam swords, capes, and scooters (with scooterheads, of course!) and be on your way! Set up two children across from eachother and scoot past for a fun swordfight!

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7. Scooter Races 

Set up a start and finish line on a flat surface with streamers (what's a finish line without being able to break through?) and allow children to race in groups of four. Allow the winners to continue racing eachother until one wins! Don't forget to wear your helmet!

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8. Scooter Nature Hunt 

Bike paths are great ways to get scooting exercise and see nature along the way! Set up a scavenger hunt to find things like birds, pinecones, squirrels, or certain plants to encourage long periods of exercise! The first person to find all items wins!

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9. Decorate your scooter 

Allow your child to jazz up their scooter with streamers, ribbons, stickers, or washable markers! Invite friends, too! Have a parade with children in the neighborhood to show off their decorating talent!

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10. Crazy Driver: Have your kiddos use chalk to create a race track of zig zags, loops, and turns and allow children to take turns zooming along! Allow them to time eachother for more fun!

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Stay active and have fun doing it! Share your After School Adventures with us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. (@microkickboard #afterschooladventures)

1) Outside Time vs. Inside Time: Research shows that children are spending half as much time outside as they did 20 years ago – and much more time doing "inside" activities.

Study: Juster, F. Thomas et al. (2004).  "Changing Times of American Youth: 1981-2003", Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. Child Development Supplement 


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