I found some Hula Hoops on sale this week and when I introduced them to my kids, they had so much fun! They did not set them down for at least a half an hour! If they had actually been able to, you know, do the hula, they may have played all day! While they played, I was impressed with how many games they came up with using those hoops. I jumped in and introduced them to more ways to play.

Here’s the best ones from our day of hoopin’…

1. Around Your Waist

The basic balance on your hips. Asa tried. He did. But he just couldn’t get it. {I happen to be a pretty good hula-hooper. I even won a contest once. But I could not get these hoops to stay up. I think maybe I need a bigger one.}

2. On Your Arms

This is the basic spin, just on your arms. If you’re really good, you can do multiple hoops on one arm. Or multiple hoops on BOTH arms!

3. Like a Steering Wheel

Lydia learned this from their favorite Boz DVD, Thank You God for Bananas, Bubbles and Busy Bodies. This is our new watch-every-morning-dvd. In the “busy bodies” segment, Boz and the kids sing “Hoop Dee Hoop” and learn fun ways to play with their hula hoops.

4. Hopscotch

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…or however many hoops you have. Just line them up and start hopping!

5. Ring Around the Rosies

Instead of holding hands, we set the hoops into a circle and walked from hoop to hoop until it was time to “all fall down!”.

6. Three Ring Circus

Maybe this is just for my dramatic daughter…but setting a hula hoop on the floor becomes an instant stage. Add a few more and you’ve got enough stages for a full circus, a rock band or a ballet recital! I’ve got some pictures…but I’m going to share them in tomorrow’s post. You’re gonna like it!

7. The Boomerang

I couldn’t get a picture of this because *I* was the only one that could do it. You take the hula hoop in your hand, then roll it as fast as you can with a backward twist thingie on it. *whew* I’m not good at explaining this. Basically you roll it, it comes back. Know what I mean?

8. Target Practice

Set up a hula hoop against a wall (or even better, hang in on a tree!). Then set another hula hoop on the floor. Stand in that hula hoop and try to throw a bean bag, ball or if you’re like us a plush hammer into the hoop!

9. Jump Rope

Another hoop trick only I could do. And it wasn’t pretty. Hold your hoop in front of you with both hands. Spin it around behind you, over your head and back down to your feet—then JUMP! All while keeping hold of the hoop in front of you. Keep spining and you’ve got a hula hoop jump rope hoop!

10. The Trinity

I tried to get all the hula hoops on the ground so we could all sit inside of them and still be connected. I thought it would be a great picture of the trinity—you know, The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But I couldn’t quite figure it out… {you know I’m kidding, right?}

linked to ohAmanda’s Top Ten {Tuesday}