Outdoor Activities for Preschoolers
How Outdoor Games Support Child Development and Improve Health
Jul 21, 2009
Preschoolers, children ranging from three to five years of age, are naturally active and energetic. Channelling that energy into a well organized task through the use of an interesting and fun activity, houses a wealth of benefits.
Such benefits equate to refining key developmental skills, strengthening bones, muscles, the heart and lungs and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Physical play also builds a child’s imagination, promotes social skills, helps children work through emotions, and advances his or her physical development.
Outdoor Activities for Balance and Coordination Skills
Snake Stomp
Hold a skipping rope at one end. Keeping the rope on the ground, wiggle it back and forth while having the child attempt to stomp on the rope.
Bean Bag Bonanza
Start by balancing a bean bag (or similar-sized item such as a stuffed animal or cushion) on the child’s head, then balancing while walking around the room. Move the bean bag to various body parts such as one’s elbow, shoulder, tummy and knee. Next play bean bag basketball by throwing the bean bags into a box or basket.
Hop to It
Name animals and insects that hop and jump, then show how they move. Some examples to start with include: grasshopper, kangaroo, frog and rabbit.
Jump through the Seasons
Enjoy a walk in the rain, by jumping over puddles. On a warm, sunny day, jump over marks or cracks on the sidewalk or enjoy a game of hopscotch drawn with chalk. Fall and winter seasons offer piles of leaves and mounds of snow to jump into and over.
Wacky Hockey
Play hockey using pool noodles and a soft ball.
Outdoor Activities that Combine Imaginative Play with Physical Movement
Who Let the Dogs Out?
It’s a Pooch Promenade. Pretend to walk like different dogs. Some ideas include:
- Dainty poodle walk
- Bouncy golden retriever walk
- Big steps Great Dane walk
- Crazy “mutt” walk
- At the end, do the “wet dog shake”
Horse Play
Go for a horse-back ride on an imaginary horse. Gallop, trot and canter down the street or at the park. Try some jumps and other show stopping moves.
“I Spy” a Walk
While walking, one person takes a turn calling “I spy with my little eye, something that is _______” (fill in the blank with a letter, colour, texture, etc.). Walk or run to the object. Continue walking while a different person takes a turn “spying”.
Preschoolers should build up to 60 minutes of structured physical activity each day. Physical activity in young children also helps early brain development and learning. When children are encouraged to be active at an early age, there is a greater chance they will continue to be active throughout their lives.
Sources
Ideas to Get Your Family Active by Active Healthy Kids Canada, 2009
Have a Ball! A Toolkit for Physical Activity and the Early Years by Best Start Resource Centre, 2009
Moving and Growing Series by Canadian Child Care Federation, 2009
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