A Preschooler's Daily Dose of Fitness

What You Need To Know

By the time your tot turns 4 or 5 they’ve  already figured out running and jumping. They will continue to build on their basics and start learning more complex things.

The National Association of Sports and Physical Education recommends that every day preschoolers should:

• get at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity (adult-led)
• get at least 60 minutes of unstructured physical activity (free play)
• not be inactive for more than 1 hour at a time (unless sleeping)

Preschoolers should participate in challenging activities that help build skills and coordination but aren't beyond their abilities.

Kids this age are learning to hop, skip, and jump forward, and are eager to show off how they can balance on one foot (for 5 seconds or longer), catch a ball, or do a somersault.  Other activities preschoolers might enjoy are: swimming, hiking, dancing, and riding a tricycle or bicycle with training wheels.

Being active is more important than playing organized sports. Experts say preschoolers haven’t mastered even the basics such as throwing, catching and taking turns so it may be too young that kind of play.

Fitness should be fun not frustrating. Try taking walks around the block with your child or include the whole family in a stroll through the park.

• Games like "Duck, Duck, Goose" or "Follow the Leader".
• Kicking a ball back and forth.
• Hitting a ball off a T-ball stand.
• Playing freeze dance or freeze tag.

• Obstacle course: Set up an obstacle course with chairs, boxes, and tours for the kids to go over, under, through, and around.
• Soft-ball games: Use soft foam balls to play indoor basketball, bowling, soccer, or catch. You can even use balloons to play volleyball.

Take advantage of your child's desire to be active. Staying fit can help improve a child’s self-esteem and reduce the risk of serious illnesses down the road.

For more on this topic, see the complete article:

http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Fitness_Your_4_5/