Physical activities

                                     Physical Activities

Children have high levels of energy that need to be expended, and the benefits of physical activity are critical to a child’s physical and mental growth. Children who are physically active tend to have longer attention span and have fewer behavioural problems. Being physically active also helps children to:

• Develop strong bones
• Develop gross and fine motor skills
• Build strength, endurance, and flexibility
• Build confidence
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Decrease stress levels
• Improve social skills
• Improve balance and coordination
• Improve posture
• Improve concentration
• Improve sleep

Here are some ideas apart for the usual running, walking, biking, jumping etc.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

This indoor physical activity is great for children’s physical development and socialization with no equipment necessary. In this exercise, children sit facing a partner with feet touching. They hold hands and lean forward and backward while singing the classic, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”

Musical Hide and Seek

Play music from a phone and hide it from the children. You and the children can then search together to figure out where the music is coming from. This will be fun for the kids and will get them moving.

Build a Tower

For this activity, you’ll need a supply of blocks, containers with lids, or another similar, stackable object. Using your item of choice, build a tower with a child. Take turns adding blocks or containers to the tower and see how high the child can stack them. You can count the number of stacked items together, and then when the tower is complete, the child can knock it down.

Toss Balls in a Basket

Give children balls to roll back and forth to a partner or children can toss the balls into a basket.

 Throw Sponges

This activity is great for a hot day. Children take wet sponges and toss them toward a container or bin. They can compare how far sponges of different sizes can be thrown or how different amounts of water affect the distance the sponge travels.

 Imitate Animals

While on their hands and knees, children move, stretch, and play like animals. They can hop like a frog or waddle like a penguin. They can arch their backs, roll on their backs, reach as high as they can, and walk on all fours. Choose a variety of animals and movements to keep children engaged and using their whole bodies to stay active.

Traffic Safety

Cut three circles from coloured paper –– one red, one yellow and one green. Label the red circle “Stop,” the yellow circle “Slow” and the green circle “Go.”

Hold and keep swapping the signs and get the children to follow the signs of the traffic.

Catching Feathers

Take feathers and toss them into the air for children to catch with their hands or in containers before they reach the ground. This will get children moving and having fun!

If children are old enough, they can also each be given a feather and try to keep the feather in the air by blowing on it.

Follow the Leader

Stand in front of the children and tell them to watch you carefully and copy your moves. Touch your nose, hop on both feet, stomp in a circle, or crawl on all fours. Choose simple actions and use large motor activities.

 Hit the Balloon

Encourage children to keep a balloon from touching the ground by hitting it with their hands. You can also place an item between two children, such as a chair or pillow, and instruct them to hit the balloon over the barrier to the other child. Chasing balloons allows children to run, zigzag, and hop to keep up with the object while maintaining their balance.