Beach, Bat and Run

[20 Minutes]

Grab your bat and ball and take off your shoes - it's time to go to practice - at the beach! You'll sprint in the soft cool sand, swing your bat in the summer breeze and never know that you're providing a bona fide baseball work-out for yourself. No cleats allowed!

You'll need:

• baseball bat • baseball • wide open beach - lake or ocean • comfortable clothes • water and snack • towels - just in case!

What to do:

1. If possible, print out these directions. Read them through together with your child.
2. Together with your child, gather everything you'll need and always remember exercise safety.
3. Explain to your child, that for a change of pace, you'll be taking baseball practice to the beach! Tell her that you'll be batting the ball and running to practice both speed and distance hitting. Tell her that you'll be doing it too - without shoes!

How to play:

1. Pick your favorite beach spot on a beautiful spring day.
2. Let your child choose the healthy snacks and help to pack up the gear.
3. When you get to the beach - set the things you won't be needing right away in a visible spot and go to the longest widest open area you can find - free of people.
4. Draw one long line in the sand where you'll be batting. Let your child choose who will bat and run first.
5. The first batter will toss her own ball in the air and attempt to hit it as far as she can. Upon hitting the ball - she will run toward the ball as fast as she can to retrieve it.
6. When the batter retrieves the ball, she must immediately write her initials in the sand where the ball landed - then sprint back to the line as fast as possible.
7. Next batter up! Compare distances of the balls hit.
8. After 5 times up at bat - it will definitely be time for a snack - and if you're hot enough - maybe you can dip your toes in the water!

Useful information:

On the weekends, my dad and I like to go to the beach whenever we can. We played this game and had lots of laughs. It was a lot different running and trying to hit the ball in the sand. (Paula, age 12)