In today’s world, where communication and entertainment is dominated by electronic devices and streaming, children are growing more and more sedentary, leading to a larger percentage of young adults with underdeveloped large motor skills and obesity. According to the World Health Organization’s Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Sleep for Children Under 5 Years of Age, the typical 24-hour day for children 3-4 years of age should include:
- At least 10-13 hours of good, quality sleep
- At least 3 hours of physical activity, at least one hour of which should be moderate to vigorous intensity
- No more than one hour of sedentary screen time.
Over the years, the children in my class arrive with a preference for electronic games and activities and less for playing. They run out of energy sooner and have lessor social skills. So, getting my classroom active is something I have made a priority.
Depending on the weather, of course, we try to incorporate some of these fun activities every day.
Indoor Activities
- Paper plate skating: Simply have them stand on paper plates, put on some music, and then skate around. This works on both hardwood floors and on carpeting. If your child wants to wear their socks or shoes, then tape their feet to the paper plate (Painter’s tape works the best).
- Bath pouf target practice: Get some bath poufs from the discount store. Create a target on a large piece of paper or multiple pieces taped together (great for fine motor development too). Then have fun tossing the poufs at the target.
- Pretend balance beam: Create a ‘balance beam’ on the floor using painter’s tape. Have your child walk frontwards, backwards, and even sideways. Side stepping uses different muscles and promotes balance, flexibility, and spatial awareness.
- Shape hop: Use painter’s tape to create a set of large shapes: squares, triangles, rectangles, etc., then call out a sequence and have your child hop from one shape to another.
- Physical motion games: Simon Says, Musical Statues, and other games where your child can move around are excellent for balance and concentration skills.
- Dancing activities: Dancing to songs, like “The Hokey Pokey,” “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” “If you’re Happy and you Know it,” and “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around” is an excellent way to get your child moving.
- Alphabet Animals: Starting with ‘A’, go through the alphabet acting like an animal for each letter, i.e. A = Alligator or Ape.
In Kalvin and Kaiser’s Very Busy Day, they enjoy a number of indoor activities, like playing pretend firemen:
Outdoor Activities
- Sensory walking: Make a path with doormats, grass, newspaper, water, sand, smooth rocks, and even mud. Have your child walk around and describe what each feels like. This can also be an indoor activity (without the water or mud), using bath poufs, shredded paper, carpet squares, cotton balls, and even a heating pad.
- Backyard bowling: Use half-full plastic water bottles for the pins. Get a large ball and have them bowl the pins down.
- Egg race: Use a timer or have the children race against each other, carrying a plastic egg on a spoon.
- Dress up relay race: Set up a relay with children on opposite sides. Have each child put on a large shirt and pants, run down to the other side, take off the shirt and pants, and then the child on that side puts them on and runs back.
- Noodleball race: Use pool noodles to push a ball to a target.
- Other outdoor games: Have fun with all-time favorites such as hopscotch, freeze tag, red light green light, and Simon Says.
- Other outdoor activities: My class always enjoyed riding scooters and tricycles, playing with balls and frisbees, rolling down small hills, and blowing, chasing, and catching bubbles.
