💪 Your Muscles
Your amazing muscles at work!
Your Muscles help your body by helping your body move, run, and jump.
🔬 How Your Muscles Work
Muscles are made of long, stretchy fibers bundled together. When your brain sends a message, the fibers squeeze and the muscle gets shorter, pulling on a bone through a strong cord called a tendon. Muscles can only pull, not push, so they work in pairs: when you bend your arm, one muscle squeezes while the muscle on the other side relaxes.
🌟 Fun Facts about Muscles
- Muscles work by squeezing (contracting) and relaxing to move your bones.
- You have hundreds of muscles all over your body, even in your face for smiling!
- Your heart is actually a powerful muscle that never stops working.
- Exercise and healthy food help your muscles grow strong.
💚 Taking Care of Your Muscles
Muscles grow stronger when you use them, so climbing, jumping, swimming and carrying things all help. Warm up and stretch gently before sport, drink water, and eat foods with protein, such as eggs, beans, fish and dairy. If a muscle hurts, rest it, and tell a grown-up if the pain does not go away.
🧠 Quick Quiz!
What is the main job of your muscles?
🏫 Classroom Activity
Have children flex their arm and feel the muscle squeeze, then make silly faces to feel their face muscles working too.
🏠 Homeschool Activity
Do a few jumping jacks together and talk about how muscles help your body move, run, and jump every single day.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do muscles move your bones?
By squeezing (contracting) and relaxing.
How many muscles does your body have?
Hundreds, even in your face.
Is your heart a muscle?
Yes, a powerful one that never stops.
What helps muscles grow strong?
Exercise and healthy food.
What activities help kids learn about muscles?
Flexing an arm, making silly faces, doing jumping jacks, or coloring a printable worksheet.