The Exerciser-izer

This project is designed to help children get fit and stay active.

The aim is to design a new fitness activity that children can easily put together at home from everyday household objects – and enjoy doing.

You will need:

• Pencil and paper to make notes and sketch your ideas
• A range of household items, such as furniture, sheets, pots and pans, brooms, laundry baskets, towels… whatever you can think of

Step 1

Start by noting down the games and activities you most enjoy doing. Not just sports, but anything that gets you moving, such as music, shopping or running to the letterbox on Valentine’s day… Make a list.

Step 2

Think of as many activities you could do at home as possible (hide and seek, assault course, races of all kinds, obviously keeping it safe...). Again, make a list.

Step 3

Lay your two lists side by side and see if you can link them up to create new activities (e.g. musical changing-the-duvet-cover race, spoon juggling or catwalk-ing down the garden to hang out the washing like Kate Moss). Jot down the ‘equipment’ needed and the ‘rules’ for each activity.

Step 4

Invite some friends round to try out your activities and score them 1 to 10 for fitness and fun. You could also try thinking up some interesting names for your invented activities.

These ideas may seem a bit bonkers, but some of the greatest innovations started with apparently crazy ideas. So who knows what you’ll discover?