How Much Activity Is Enough?
Physical activity guidelines for preschoolers recommend that each day:
- they get at least 60 minutes of structured (adult-led) physical activity
- they get at least 60 minutes of unstructured (free play) physical activity
- they not be inactive for more than 1 hour at a time unless sleeping
Limit screen — time spent watching TV (including videos and DVDs), on the
computer, and playing video games — to no more than 1-2 hours per day.
Structured Play
Preschoolers are likely to get structured play at childcare or in preschool programs
through games like "Duck, Duck, Goose" and "London Bridge." Consider enrolling your
child in a preschool tumbling or dance class.
Your preschooler can get structured outdoor play at home, too. Play together in
the backyard or practice motor skills, such as throwing and catching a ball. Preschoolers
also love trips to the playground.
Though many kids love being outdoors, lots of fun things can be organized
indoors: a child-friendly obstacle course, a treasure hunt, or forts made out sheets
and boxes or chairs. Designate a play area and clear the space of any breakables.
Here are some more ideas for structured play:
- play bounce catch
- use paper airplanes to practice throwing
- balance a beanbag on your heads while walking — make this more challenging
by setting up a simple slalom course
- play freeze dance
- play wheelbarrow by holding your child's legs while he or she walks forward on
hands
Many parents are eager to enroll their preschool child in organized sports. Although
some leagues may be open to kids as young as 4 years old, organized and team sports
are not recommended until kids are a little older. Preschoolers can't understand complex
rules and often lack the attention span, skills, and coordination needed to play sports.
If you decide to enroll your preschooler in an organized team sport, such as T-ball
or soccer, make sure the focus is on helping kids gain basic physical skills, like
running, and fundamental social skills, like following rules and taking turns.
If your preschooler is not ready for the team or not interested in sports, consider
helping him or her continue to work on fundamental skills — hopping on one foot,
catching a ball, doing a somersault, and maybe riding a bicycle or tricycle.
To teach preschoolers to play baseball, start by teaching them basic skills, such
as throwing, catching, and hitting off a T-ball stand. Then, if you play a game of
wiffle ball, don't worry if your child doesn't tag first base — it's enough
to get kids running in the right direction.