Getting and Staying Active: Real-Life Examples
Children and adolescents can meet the Physical Activity Guidelines and become regularly physically active in many ways. Here are just two examples showing how a child and an adolescent can be physically active for at least 60 minutes each day over the course of a week.
These examples illustrate that even though the activity patterns are different, each young person is meeting the Guidelines by getting the equivalent of at least 60 minutes or more of aerobic activity each day that is at least moderate intensity. Both are also doing vigorous-intensity, muscle-strengthening, and bone strengthening activities on at least 3 days a week.
Harold: A 7-Year-Old Child
Harold participates in many types of physical activities in many places. For example, during physical education class, he jumps rope and does gymnastics and sit-ups. During recess, he plays on the playground-often by doing activities that require running and climbing. He also likes to play soccer with his friends and family. When Harold gets home from school, he likes to engage in active play (playing tag) and ride his bicycle with his friends and family.
Harold gets 60 minutes of physical activity each day that is at least moderate intensity. He participates in the following activities each day:
Monday: Walks to and from school (20 minutes), plays actively with family (20 minutes), jumps rope (10 minutes), does gymnastics (10 minutes).
Tuesday: Walks to and from school (20 minutes), plays on playground (25 minutes), climbs on playground equipment (15 minutes).
Wednesday: Walks to and from school (20 minutes), plays actively with friends (25 minutes), jumps rope (10 minutes), runs (5 minutes), does sit-ups (2 minutes).
Thursday: Plays actively with family (30 minutes), plays soccer (30 minutes).
Friday: Walks to and from school (20 minutes), plays actively with friends (25 minutes), bicycles (15 minutes).
Saturday: Plays on playground (30 minutes), climbs on playground equipment (15 minutes), bicycles (15 minutes).
Sunday: Plays on playground (10 minutes), plays soccer (40 minutes), plays tag with family (10 minutes).
Harold meets the Guidelines by doing vigorous-intensity aerobic activities, bone-strengthening activities, and muscle-strengthening activities on at least 3 days of the week:
- Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities 6 times during the week: jumping rope (Monday and Wednesday), running (Wednesday), soccer (Thursday and Sunday), playing tag (Sunday);
- Bone-strengthening activities 6 times during the week: jumping rope (Monday and Wednesday), running (Wednesday), soccer (Thursday and Sunday), playing tag (Sunday); and
- Muscle-strengthening activities 4 times during the week: gymnastics (Monday), climbing on playground equipment (Tuesday and Saturday), sit-ups (Wednesday).
Maria: A 16-Year-Old Adolescent
Maria participates in many types of physical activities in many places. For example, during physical education class, she plays tennis and does sit-ups and push-ups. She also likes to play basketball at the YMCA, do yoga, and go dancing with friends. Maria likes to take her dog on walks and hikes.
Maria gets 60 or more minutes of daily physical activity that is at least moderate intensity. She participates in the following activities each day:
Monday: Walks dog (10 minutes), plays basketball at YMCA (50 minutes).
Tuesday: Walks dog (10 minutes), plays tennis (30 minutes), does sit-ups and push-ups (5 minutes), walks briskly with friends (15 minutes).
Wednesday: Walks dog (10 minutes), plays basketball at YMCA (50 minutes).
Thursday: Walks dog (10 minutes), plays tennis (30 minutes), does sit-ups and push-ups (5 minutes), plays with children at the park while babysitting (15 minutes).
Friday: Plays Frisbee® in park (45 minutes), mows lawn (30 minutes).
Saturday: Goes dancing with friends (60 minutes), does yoga (30 minutes).
Sunday: Hikes (60 minutes).
Maria meets the Guidelines by doing vigorous-intensity aerobic activities, bone-strengthening activities, and muscle-strengthening activities on at least 3 days of the week:
- Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities 4 times during the week: basketball (Monday and Wednesday), dancing (Saturday), hiking (Sunday);
- Bone-strengthening activities 4 times during the week: basketball (Monday and Wednesday), dancing (Saturday), hiking (Sunday); and
- Muscle-strengthening activities 3 times during the week: sit-ups and push-ups (Tuesday and Thursday), yoga (Saturday).
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services
1. Fakhouri THI, Hughes JP, Burt VL, et al. Physical activity in U.S. youth aged 12-15 years, 2012. NCHS data brief, no. 141. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, 2014.
