Motivating Preschoolers to Be Active (page 2)

Preschoolers Need to Play

Preschoolers can be unstoppable — running, spinning, leaping, and climbing at every opportunity. Their desire to move, move, move makes this a great time to cultivate fitness habits that will last.

Kids need to be fit for the same reasons adults do: to improve their health and ensure that their bodies can do what they need them to do. Regular exercise helps kids grow, build strong muscles and bones, develop important motor skills, and enhance self-esteem.

It's a little odd to think about "motivating" a preschooler to be active. (It's not like thoughts of thinner thighs or a slimmer belly are going to spur them to the gym for a workout!) Yet it's important that they play actively several times daily.

So what should parents and caregivers do? You probably already know what will motivate this age group best: fun.

To keep active time fun, know what activities are best for your child's age group and make having a good time the top priority. For instance, preschoolers might groan if you drag them on a boring walk around an exercise track. But if you walk through the woods, stopping to admire nature and tossing rocks into a stream, the walk is much more appealing.

Understanding which skills your child has — and is working on — is another key to keeping it fun. You can have a great time kicking the ball back and forth together, but your child probably wouldn't have much fun if put into a soccer game with all the rules enforced.

Away From Home

Also consider kids' opportunities to be active while away from home. At a child care center or preschool, do kids have access to a playground or large indoor space for activity? The games and equipment need not be fancy. Preschool kids are working on skills such as hopping, balancing on one foot, throwing and catching balls, pedaling tricycles, and skipping.

They'll enjoy simple games such as catch and tag, playing with plastic bats and balls, dancing, and tumbling. And kids still love to play "Duck, Duck, Goose," "London Bridge," "I'm a Little Teapot," or "Simon Says."

The benefits will pay off now and later, according to the National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE). When kids learn basic skills (jumping, throwing, kicking, catching) in the preschool years, it builds confidence and increases the chances that they'll continue to be physically active as they grow up. NASPE recommends that preschoolers accumulate at least 60 minutes of structured (adult-led) physical activity a day.