What's so great about physical activity?

The evidence is building and is more convincing than ever!!! Physical activity can improve health and well-being. Regular physical activity in childhood has many benefits: it improves strength and endurance, builds healthy bones and muscles, develops motor skills and coordination, reduces depression and stress and promotes well-being. Most children naturally love physical activity because it's fun, they can do it with friends, and it helps them learn, stay in shape, and feel better.

What is physical activity?

Physical activity is any movement that uses energy. Physical activity includes a wide range of activities from running, jumping, biking, and swimming to jumping rope, dancing, skating and walking.

Why are healthy lifestyles important for young children?

Early childhood is a key time for promoting the development of lifelong healthy habits such as physical activity. Families and caregivers can be positive role models for young children by participating in physical activity themselves and by participating in physical activity with children.

How can I encourage physical activity in my childcare program?

A recent study designed to identify factors associated with physical activity in young children found that the activity level in the child care center had a profound effect on the child's overall physical activity. These findings support a role for child care providers in promoting quality activity programs and providing space and time for young children to be active.

Outdoor and indoor play can provide lots of opportunity for physical activity. Both unstructured and structured playtimes are important. Try some of the following ideas:

• Obstacle Course
  Create an obstacle course that children can climb over, under, around and through-using chairs, pillows, cardboard, etc.
  
  
• Turn Up the Music and Dance
  Try freeze dancing where you turn off the music and have children hold their positions in place.
  
  
• Creative Movement
  How would you move to describe a sizzle? A splash? A hammer? How would you walk on ice? Hot sand? In a strong wind? Can you move like a duck? A horse? A dragon?
  
  
• Walking
  Go for a walk in the neighborhood or a nearby park. Learn about trees, plants and animals in the area.

And remember to limit time spent watching television or movies and playing video games.

Have fun and be active!!!

National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) Guidelines for Physical Activity in Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers Infants: 1. Infants should interact with parents and/or caregivers in daily physical activities that are dedicated to promoting the exploration of their environment. 2. Infants should be placed in safe settings that facilitate physical activity and do not restrict movement for prolonged periods of time. 3. Infants’ physical activity should promote the development of movement skills. 4. Infants should have an environment that meets or exceeds recommended safety standards for performing large muscle activities. 5. Individuals responsible for the well-being of infants should be aware of the importance of physical activity and facilitate the child’s movement skills. Toddlers: 1. Toddlers should accumulate at least 30 minutes daily of structured physical activity; preschoolers at least 60 minutes. 2. Toddlers and preschoolers should engage in at least 60 minutes and up to several hours per day of daily, unstructured physical activity and should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time except when sleeping. 3. Toddlers should develop movement skills that are building blocks for more complex movement tasks; preschoolers should develop competence in movement skills that are building blocks for more complex movement tasks. 4. Toddlers and preschoolers should have indoor and outdoor areas that meet or exceed recommended safety standards for performing large muscle activities. 5. Individuals responsible for the well-being of toddlers and preschoolers should be aware of the importance of physical activity and facilitate the child’s movement skills.