You exercise all the time without even thinking of it. When you run around outside or play kickball at school, you are exercising. What else counts as exercise? Playing sports, dancing, and doing push-ups. Even reaching down to touch your toes! When you exercise, you make your body stronger. So be active every day. Your body will thank you! Make Your Heart Happy! Your heart is a muscle. It works hard, pumping blood every day. Help your heart get stronger by doing aerobic (say: air-OH-bik) exercise. Aerobic means "with air." When you do aerobic exercise, you breathe faster so you take in more air. Your heart beats harder too. This gives your heart a workout. It will get even better at its main job — taking oxygen from the air you breathe in and giving it to all your body parts. What Type of Exercise Is Good for Me? Lots of exercises can get your heart pumping. Try these: swimming basketball hockey running or walking skating soccer cross-country skiing riding your bike jumping rope How Can I Get Stronger Muscles? Did you ever swing across the monkey bars at the playground or play a game of tag? They can make your leg and arm muscles stronger. Here are other ways to build strong muscles: push-ups pull-ups tug-of-war rowing running jumping bike riding How Can I Be More Flexible? Being flexible means you can stretch your body easily. Exercises that build flexibility feel really good, like when you take a big stretch in the morning after waking up. It's easy to find things that help you stretch: gymnastics yoga dancing karate bending, twisting, and reaching Exercise Feels Good It feels good to have a strong, flexible body that can do all the things you enjoy — like running, jumping, and playing with your friends. It's also fun to be good at something, like making a basket, hitting a home run, or dancing. Exercising can also put you in a better mood. When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals that make you feel happier. It's just another reason why exercise is a good idea! Back to Articles Related Articles Be a Fit Kid A lot of people talk about fit kids, but how do you become one? Here are five rules to live by, if you want to eat right, be active, and keep a healthy weight. Read More What If I Don't Like Sports? Sports can be challenging when you're new to them, but they also can be really fun. Take a second look at sports - and learn other ways to be active - in this article for kids. Read More How Can I Feel Better About My Body? It's normal to wish you could change something about your body. Find out more about these feelings in this article for kids. Read More Can Kids With Asthma Play Sports? Kids who have asthma can and do play sports. Find out how to do it safely in this article for kids. Read More Nutrition & Fitness Center Want to know more about eating right and being active? This is the place! Read More Sports, Exercise, and Diabetes Like anyone else, kids with diabetes can enjoy sports. Whether you want to go for the gold or just go hiking in your hometown, your diabetes won't hold you back. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.