Physical activity keeps our minds and bodies healthy—no matter our age. Not only does physical activity help us to stay healthy and strong, but it also releases powerful endorphins that keep us feeling happy and energized. Active play also teaches your preschooler to associate physical activity with fun and enjoyment, which can help to foster a positive relationship with exercise and play later in life. Here are ten ways to help children stay active:
1. Create a Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are as much fun to design as they are to do! You can get as creative with your hunt as you’d like. Maybe it has a theme that your child loves, or maybe it has a competitive angle (i.e. the first to finish wins a prize). The best part of a scavenger hunt is its versatility. It can be as simple as finding five green objects in a bedroom or as complex as finding spray-painted pine cones you’ve hidden in the backyard or around the neighborhood.
2. Have a Dance Party
Dance parties can happen at the drop of a hat, at any time of day, anywhere you are. Turn on your family’s favorite music and dance your hearts out! This can be a great way to introduce your child to some of your favorite childhood music, as well as a way to learn new songs together. Teach your preschooler different styles of dance, too. Just like the famous song says, you can “do the Mashed Potato / You can do The Twist”! For even more fun, get everyone in the family involved!
3. Plant a Garden
Planting a garden is a great way to keep kids active while also teaching them a new skill and enjoying the weather outside. This project is a great way to introduce basic science concepts like biodiversity. For older children, you can introduce more complex concepts like sustainability or photosynthesis. But the best part of gardening is when your child sees the fruits of their labor. Eating a veggie you planted just weeks before tastes better than just any tomato!
4. Find an Active Class
With a quick Google search, odds are good you will be able to find a class that teaches a specialized activity for children. If you notice your child gravitating towards a specific sport or activity, find a class that builds on that passion. If your child loves to spin, jump, and roll, a gymnastics course might be the right fit. Even if you can’t find a class locally, odds are good there are online versions available. Setting aside time for physical activity helps make it a priority in your family’s busy life.
5. Take a Walk Together
A simple daily walk can do wonders for your family’s mental and emotional health. When you need some time outside of the house, even a short jaunt can provide an easy reset. Breathe in the fresh air while you explore your neighborhood. You never know what you will discover when you go for a walk: a new canine friend, a family of ducks crossing the road, or a neighborhood owl nesting in a tall tree. Walks are also a great time to initiate deeper conversations with your child while you’re both exploring the community you live in.
6. Teach Household Chores
As your child ages, they can naturally begin to take on some basic household chores. There are developmentally-appropriate tasks for any age. Even very young children can help fold towels or straighten the sheets on a bed, for example. This activity is genuinely helpful for the whole family and builds essential life skills.
7. Create Activity Stations
One way to combine fun activities and keep things interesting for your child is to create activity stations outside or around your house to help keep your child active. These stations can be as simple as crayons and a coloring book or as complex as a science experiment. Make as many stations as you like and personalize them for your child’s age and interests.
8. Go for a Bike Ride
Riding a bike is a tremendous form of exercise. If the weather is nice and your preschooler is full of energy, going for a ride on their balance bike is the perfect solution. Bikes can help expand your child’s play area into the surrounding neighborhood and there may even be a few local children ready to band together and cycle nearby your home.
9. Build a Birdhouse or Bird Feeder
Watching birds from a distance is exhilarating, but what if the birds came even closer to your home? By building a birdhouse or a bird feeder with your child, you can bring joy and excitement to your backyard or front yard for the rest of the season. Encourage your child to observe the wildlife and keep a nature journal. Together, research what kinds of seeds or plants will encourage local fauna to visit your yard. You can also draw pictures of the creatures that you and your child see together.
10. Cook a Meal Together
Cooking together is a wonderful way to explore new flavors, textures, and smells in the kitchen. All the mixing, measuring, chopping, and stirring can keep your family very active! Find recipes you and your child would like to make together and create a unique and delicious meal for the entire family. Recreate family recipes, discover international cuisines, or come up with your own creations! Whatever you do, the process will be fun, and the result will be delicious.
The Gardner School Keeps Kids Active
With frequent indoor and outdoor play, TGS prioritizes the physical health of our students by giving kids plenty of active time. Since physical activity can help little minds grow, it’s extra important to include it in your preschooler’s curriculum. To learn more about how The Gardner School designs a daily schedule for our students, reach out to tour your local school.