Young children aged 1-5 years need three hours of physical activity each day, including bursts of energetic play. For children aged 3–5 years, one of those three hours should be made up of energetic, or active play, spread over the day. More is better!
Stuck for ideas getting active? The team at Play Active have got you covered. Start with these ten tips to get little bodies moving.
1. Keep it up! Blow up a balloon and see how long you and your child can keep it off the ground by tapping it up with your hands, feet, and head.
2. Obstacle course. Grab some everyday objects and create an obstacle course for you and your little one to jump over, run through or crawl under.
3. The floor is lava! Pretend that the floor is lava. Provide materials to help cross the lava safely. No one is allowed to touch the floor.
4. Swish! Take a laundry basket and some rolled up socks and see if children can throw the socks in the basket. Ask them to run and collect the socks and try again.
5. Let’s boogie! Put on some music that you love and have a dance party.
6. Musical Statues. Add some extra fun to the dance party by playing musical statues. When the music stops, freeze!
7. Active Reading. Read an active book and act out the story – Jump and Shout, Going on a Bear Hunt, Spot Loves Sport, A Nice Walk in the Jungle, Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo.
8. Move and sing. Sing an active rhyme like – Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, Incy Wincy
9. Ready, set, go! Play chasey. Tag, you’re it!
10. Making music. Provide a range of noise-making materials for young children and let them create some beautiful music. 😉
For weekly active play ideas, visit the Play Active program on Instagram or Facebook.
To grow active play at your early learning service, please visit https://playactive.org.au/