The muscular system is fun for kids to learn about. I've shared a short video that describes it, a fun activity for your kid to get to know his body better, as well as additional resources to continue the learning.
Watch the video
This is a very easy to follow video that explains the muscular system to kids. I watched it alongside my kid since he had questions as he watched it.
Let's do some muscle activities to learn
Here are two fun and easy activities you can do at home to see how your muscles work.
The first activity asks you to use your muscles while focusing. Your child should be able to feel the muscles at work. The muscles might feel a bit tired too.
This helped my son realize that there were muscles underneath his skin that he needs to use to move.
The second activity asks you to measure your muscle. My kid didn't get much of a difference when we measured his biceps, but it did make him aware that the muscle changed shape and texture when he flexed it.
Tense and Relaxation
- Sit in a chair and try to relax all your muscles.
- Scrunch up your face and hold for 3 seconds. Relax your face and keeping it as relaxed as possible, count to 20.
- Tense up your shoulders and hold for 3 seconds. Relax your shoulders and keeping them as relaxed as possible, count to 20.
- Show your biceps and hold for 3 seconds. Relax your arms and count to 20.
- Tense your legs and hold for 3 seconds. Relax your legs and count to 20.
Measuring
Measuring biceps
- Get a measuring tape and a buddy.
- Have your buddy help you measure the circumference of your biceps while relaxed.
- Flex your muscles and have your buddy measure the circumference while flexing.
- See the difference?
- Take turns.
Measuring ab muscles
- Suck in your belly as much as possible and measure the circumference around your body.
- Push out your belly as much as possible and measure the circumference again.
- See the difference?
Additional resources for kids to learn about the muscles in our bodies
The Magic School Bus
Watch The Magic School Bus Season 2 Episode 2: Flexes Its Muscles.
Along with the show, there is also an experiment you can do with your kid. It involves examining the bones in a chicken wing and seeing how it moves. (Don't worry, you first boil and cook the chicken wings before the experiment.)
Books
We have this lift-the-flap book and use it regularly when we have questions about the human body. There's a great picture of the muscles in the human body in it, with lots of lift-the-flaps and interesting information.
Toys
This magnetic human body toy is great for little kids who are just learning about the body. It's helpful for kids to visualize the different systems in the body.
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