Tips for Creating a Active Environment
Toddlers and preschoolers are naturally active and you should support, rather than discourage, this tendency. Physical activity levels in children drop off significantly after the preschool years when children start school and have less time for active play. Therefore it is important to develop active children and an interest in a variety of physical activities before that time.
Provide open play space. In bad weather, empty garages are great places for kids to play, provided that dangerous tools and equipment are out of reach.
Encourage them to get moving. Make positive comments that focus on effort: "Wow, you zoomed down the slide!" "You almost made a basket!"
Provide at least 60 minutes a day for active free play. Children should not be sedentary for more than one hour at a time during the day. Let them run, climb, march, pedal, throw, roll, skip, dig, and jump in a safe space until they are tired. Offer riding toys, balls, beanbags, climbers, balance beams, and obstacle courses.
Plan an hour or more of structured physical activity each day. Families and caregivers can teach creative movement, dance, gallop, jump rope, and game-playing skills. Games should focus on basic movement skills, cooperation and fun, not winning and losing.
Turn off the TV, video games and computer. Experts say preschoolers should not sit in one place or lie down for more than an hour at a time unless they are sleeping. Limiting "screen time" provides more opportunities for active play.
Keep children safe. Introduce new activities carefully and with patience - preschoolers need time to practice and master new skills. Make sure indoor and outdoor play spaces are safe. Keep constant watch of children around water, in parks and public places. Wear protective equipment such as helmets for cycling, scooters, skate boards, and roller skating. Be aware that basic movement skills such as running, jumping, throwing and kicking do not just happen as a child grows older. For example, a child who does not use stairs may be delayed in stair climbing and a child who is discouraged from bouncing and chasing balls may lag in hand-eye coordination.
Choose Wisely. Choose activities that are appropriate for the age and stage of your children. Preschoolers should begin with simple activities that develop skills for more complex activities. For example, rolling a ball and having them sit and catch it between their legs vs. throwing a ball and having them catch it while standing.
Aim for consistency. Plan to keep your children active each and every day. Use an activity calendar to plan and track activities.
Sporty gifts. Ask parents to donate gently used sports equipment, balls, tricycles, etc. to show children that activity is a priority.
Don't just sit there - play along. Join in on the play and games like catch, tag, and hide and seek. Teach children how to kick a soccer ball and ride a bike.
Share books that show the importance of fitness. Offer children books about dancers, athletes, construction workers, farmers, and other physically active people.
Let the kids choose the activity. Children need to see fitness as a fun activity. Do not push a child into anything he/she does not want to do-try to steer them in a direction that suits their temperament, talents and interests.
Provide positive feedback. There is nothing more important than providing children with positive encouragement, both verbally and physically. No matter what their level of skill, help them see fitness as fun and enjoyable. Praise children for participating in an activity - building confidence is more important than skill at this stage (e.g., I'm glad you enjoyed playing that game vs. you played that game really well).
