Preschoolers have a lot of energy — and they use it in a more organized way than when they were toddlers. Instead of just running around in the backyard, a preschooler has the physical skills and coordination to ride a tricycle or chase a butterfly.
“Preschoolers are developing motor skills at this age, such as learning to hop, skip, catch a ball and balance on one foot,” said Dr. Michelle Levitt, a pediatrician at Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics. “Physical activity is important for the development of these skills, so it is important to promote activity versus sedentary behaviors.”
In fact, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends 2 hours of physical activity each day. This includes 60 minutes of structured (adult-led) physical activity and 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity, or free play.
So get your kids up off the couch and get them moving — the benefits of raising a fit preschooler will last a lifetime.
Through physical activity, preschoolers will develop endurance (chasing after someone while playing tag), strength (crossing the monkey bars) and flexibility (bending over to put on socks/shoes). In addition, physical activity helps kids sleep better, build confidence, and handle physical or emotional challenges better.
Not to mention, giving kids safe opportunities to play in both organized and unstructured ways builds a foundation for a fit lifestyle that can carry them through life.
It’s easy to remain active when it’s warm outside, but the cold, dark winter months present more of a challenge. So, Dr. Levitt offers 14 ways preschoolers can remain active even in the winter.
Though many kids love being outdoors, lots of fun things can be organized indoors. Here are 7 ideas for structured, or adult-led, play:
- Play games like Duck-Duck-Goose, London Bridges, Freeze Dance and Simon Says.
- Play “volleyball” using a balloon or foam ball, or a game of “don’t let the ball hit the floor.”
- Blow bubbles and let your kids chase and catch them.
- Use paper airplanes to practice throwing.
- Balance a beanbag on your heads while walking. You can make this more challenging by setting up a simple slalom course.
- Play wheelbarrow by holding your child’s legs while she walks forward on her hands.
- Turn a board game into an active one. For example, every time you land on a space you have to touch your toes, do jumping jacks or stand up/sit down 3 times.
“You could also find an indoor park, like a trampoline center, indoor water park or an indoor playground to mix things up,” said Dr. Levitt.
Unstructured or free play is when kids are left more to their own devices — within a safe environment. During these times, they should be able to choose from a variety of physical activities, such as exploring or dancing around the kitchen.
Here are 7 ideas for unstructured free play:
- Clear an area of breakables and set up an indoor obstacle course.
- Prepare an indoor scavenger hunt.
- Make a fort out of sheets, boxes and chairs.
- Put on music and encourage your kids to dance and free play.
- Set a timer to challenge your kids on how fast they can clean up toys, build a tower with blocks or free-style any activity for short bursts of activity.
- Prepare a basket with foam balls, beanbags, streamers, pots and pans, hoops, costumes, etc., and encourage kids to use their imagination.
- Set up play dates for active free play with other kids.
“The 2 most important factors in helping kids get active is to role model and make it fun,” said Dr. Levitt. “Parents, teachers and caregivers must be active themselves and they must do the activities with the child. The goal at this age is to instill a love for movement and being active.”