Ten Ways to Use Hula Hoops for Physical Fitness

by Kelly Pfeiffer

Hula-hoops aren’t just for hula hooping. Most preschoolers can’t hula hoop but can play with hoops in different ways for fun physical fitness benefits. A versatile play prop, hoops offer many opportunities for preschoolers to be active, develop physical skills and use their imagination. Choose one or all ten ways to provide fun physical fitness activities for preschoolers. A simple hula hoop can provide hours of fun and fitness.

What You Need

Hula Hoops - one or more

Ten Ways to Use Hula Hoops for Physical Fitness with Preschoolers

1. Hoop Toss – Set up cones or soda bottles for preschoolers to toss hoops over.

2. Rolling Hoops – Preschoolers can roll hoops on the ground back and forth to each other.

3. Hop Hoop-to-Hoop - Lay hoops on the ground in a pattern so preschoolers can jump from one hoop to the next. Tell preschoolers to hop or move like certain animals.

4. Hoop Steering Wheel – Preschoolers can hold smaller hula-hoops in front of them like a steering wheel. Preschoolers can drive their hula-hoop around.

5. Hoop Space Ship – Lay hula-hoop on the ground. Preschoolers step into their hoop cars, pick up the hoop with both hands and zoom around in their space ship.

6. Human Goal Hoop – A preschooler uses both hands to hold a small hula-hoop in front of them to become a very short human basketball goal. Toss a beach ball up in the air near the preschooler. Tell your preschooler to move and hold the hoop so that the beach ball falls through the hoop. Note: Not suited for a group activity as preschoolers would run the risk of crashing into each other. Use only a beach ball, other air filled ball or safety balloon.

7. Hoop Obstacle Course – Use hoop holders to stand hula-hoops up so preschoolers can jump through the hoop like they are going through a tunnel or doorway. Set up the standing hoops in different patterns.

8. Wide Hoop – Place 3 or more hoops on top of each other and use painter’s masking tape to tape the hoops together to make one wide hoop. Preschoolers will have fun exploring with a wide in different ways – rolling, hopping in and out and more.

9. Flowing Hoop Dance Prop – Tie a scarf or crepe paper streamers to a hoop, put on music outdoors and allow preschoolers to explore using the hoop as a dance prop.

10. Performing Animal Tricks – Preschoolers can pretend there are a circus ringmaster, a circus animal or a performing dog and use hoops in their performance.

Hoop Protection Tip