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Being physically active helps your pre-school child learn healthy habits. Young children who participate in active play can get the physical activity they need to maintain a healthy weight, develop muscles and strong bones, and reduce their risk of developing chronic disease such as Type 2 diabetes.
Encourage your pre-schooler to play actively several times every day. Pre-schoolers' activity may happen in short bursts of time instead of all at once. Physical activity does not always have to be led by adults. Young children need quiet time, but make sure your child is not inactive for too long.
Limit TV and screen time to less than two hours daily:
- Encourage reading or crafts rather than TV time.
- Quiet time is best before naps or bed.
- Be a role model and limit your own inactivity. Your child will learn that being physically active is part of a healthy life. Manage the time you spend watching TV or using mobile devices.
- Look for childcare settings that engage children in active play and regular physical activity. After 60 minutes of inactivity (such as watching TV), your child should be encouraged to be active.
- Avoid having the TV on during mealtimes.
- Only put TVs in family rooms. Don't put a TV in your child's bedroom.
Healthy Tips for Active Play
Why is active play important?
Active play helps your child learn healthy habits. There are many health benefits of active play:
- Active children are less likely to weigh too much.
- Keeping your child active now helps lower the chance of developing chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes.
- Activities, like running and jumping rope, help your child learn movement skills to develop muscles and strong bones.
- Active play can also help the mind develop. Playing 'pretend' lets children be creative.
- Active children are more likely to be happy and feel good about themselves. Children feel proud after learning how to bounce a ball or ride a bike.
Your child loves to move!
Encourage your child to play actively several times each day. Active play for children can happen in short bursts of time and can be led by you or your child. Active play can include playing on the playground, playing tag with friends or throwing a ball.
Do you wonder if your child is active enough?
- My child plays outside several times a day or inside where he or she is free to move. ___Yes ___No
- I make sure my child's TV and screen time is less than two hours a day. ___Yes ___No
- I make sure my child is actively moving for at least 60 minutes a day. ___Yes ___No
- When actively playing, my child breathes quickly or sweats. ___Yes ___No
If you can usually answer yes to these statements, your child is probably getting enough active play.
How can you raise an active child?
- Make active play fun for the whole family. Let your child help plan the fun.
- Focus on fun, not performance. All children like to play. They will win when they move, have fun and are active daily.
- Set limits on TV and computer time. Limit TV and other screen time to less than two hours a day, as advised by many doctors. Try reading during inactive time rather than watching TV.
- Be active yourself. Active parents tend to raise active children. You influence your child's behaviour, attitudes and future habits. Be more active and limit your own time watching TV. Set the example by using safety gear, like bike helmets.
As children grow, they may be ready for new activities.
- By age two, they can run, walk, gallop, jump and swim with adult help.
- By age three, they can hop; climb; ride a tricycle or bicycle with training wheels and a safety helmet; and catch, throw, bounce and kick a ball.
- By age four, they can skip, swim and complete an obstacle course.
There are many activities you can do with your child.
Here are some ideas of how to be active with your child. Write down your own ideas, too!
| Indoor play | Outdoor play |
|---|---|
|
Act out a story Turn up the music and dance Walk inside a shopping mall Play games, such as duck-duck-goose, hide and seek, follow the leader, Simon says Your family ideas: _________________________ |
Take family walks after dinner Play catch Take a nature hike Play games in the garden or park Kick a ball Your family ideas: _________________________ |
Reference:
Choose My Plate, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) (Updated 2015, 16 June). Physical activity & Healthy tips for active play. Retrieved 26 September 2017 from https://www.choosemyplate.gov