What is the Heart?

Have your child check their resting heart rate by placing right hand over their heart. Have your child raise their left hand over their head and open and close hand with each heart beat. Now, have your child move or even run in place for a few minutes. Have your child repeat the hand over heart and opening and closing of hand above their head. Ask if they notice the faster beating of the heart with activity. Explain to your child that the heart is a muscle (like the one in your arm when you curl the arm and feel the bicep tighten) that moves blood throughout the body. When physical activity is done, the muscle works faster, creating a faster heartbeat. Explain the heart is the most important muscle in the body.