Preschoolers love being physically active, so it's no wonder that it's often hard to keep them in one place. The solution is to work with their high energy levels. It's important to keep them safe, of course, but give them plenty of opportunities to be active.

Create an informal activity schedule at home. Rainy days can be difficult, so it might be worth a trip to a museum, indoor playground, or shopping mall just so your child can move around. If you child attends childcare or preschool, ask how often he or she gets to go outside and what the class does on bad-weather days.

To TV or Not to TV?

TV or computer time might interest preschoolers, but these activities do nothing to burn off all that energy. Set limits on screen time because a preschooler may not know when he or she has had enough TV and computer use. Preschoolers shouldn't be inactive for more than an hour at a time unless they're sleeping, so it's easy to understand why a lot of screen time isn't advisable. It can start a pattern of inactivity that could lead to weight problems or lack of physical fitness for your child.

If you decide to allow your child to watch TV and/or use the computer, the combined TV and computer time should not exceed 2 hours a day. Carefully choose the shows, videos, DVDs, software, and websites your child interacts with. Educational programs and those that encourage kids to exercise or dance are often good choices. Place the computer and television in a part of the house where you can easily monitor your child and be aware of how long each is in use.

Even though many shows, videos, websites, and computer games are marketed to preschoolers, using the computer and watching TV are not as valuable as other pastimes, such as playing, going outside, talking to a parent, or drawing a picture.

The Very Active Preschooler

Preschoolers are such movers and shakers that some parents may worry that their child could be hyperactive or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In fact, these disorders usually aren't diagnosed in preschool children because it's normal for them to be active and have shorter attention spans.

As children get older, more is expected of them, and it is then that it may become clear that a child is less focused, has poorer judgment, and is much more active than his classmates.

To gauge whether overactivity might be a problem for your child, consider these questions:

• Is your child's activity level unusual for kids of the same age?
• Is your child highly active in all settings (home, preschool, etc.) or just in some settings, such as in church?
• Is your child highly active all or most of the time? Or is it mostly on days when he or she can't get outside to run and play?

If your child is very active, try to avoid situations where he or she is forced to sit still for long periods of time. And when sitting is unavoidable, find ways to get your child some activity, such as taking breaks during a long car trip just so your child can run around a bit. If you are still concerned, talk to your child's doctor. But the good news is that many preschoolers will become more calm and focused by the time they reach the early school years.

Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: April 2008