Active play for kids

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Active play for your kids

By around two years of age, your children will most likely have mastered walking and will be ready to progress to the next stage of their physical and social development. From here, it’s important to introduce your kids to a range of activities and games that help develop their full range of fundamental movement skills.

You can play a vital role in encouraging children to be active each day. Getting involved in games and activities with the kids in your life is a great way to encourage them to be more active.

Screen time

The right gear for the job

For active play, it is good to have the right toys and equipment. The best items are things that can be used for different ages and levels of ability, as well as being able to be used both indoors and out.

Why not make use of everyday recyclable products like these:

  • Ice-cream containers as buckets or markers
  • Plastic containers or milk containers as skittles
  • Cardboard boxes as cars or tunnels
  • Empty food cartons as building blocks
  • Long cardboard cylinders as ‘horses’, golf sticks or hockey sticks
  • An old bed sheet as a parachute.
Games

You could try these great games and activities designed to encourage active play:

  • Throwing a ball into a bucket and varying the distance
  • Potato sack races
  • Parachute games
  • Running around with paper streamers
  • Catching games
  • Follow the leader games
  • Making an obstacle course
  • Kicking and throwing using a soft ball
  • Running and stopping
  • Hitting a soft ball
  • Blowing bubbles and trying to catch them before they pop
  • Going to the local park and taking a range of equipment with you.

For more information and examples of games you can play with toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarten children, check out the below factsheet.

 

Active play for indoor days

Most of us can easily think of active play games for the outdoors. But thinking of fun indoor activities for our kids can often be harder. So the next time the clouds are out or it’s too hot or cold or wet, give some of these indoor game activities a whirl – the kids will love them!

  • Throw soft balls into a bucket and vary the distance
  • Musical chairs
  • Dance to action songs
  • Follow-the-leader
  • Make an obstacle course
  • Play heads and shoulders, knees and toes
  • Act out a children's story book
  • Ten pin bowling in the hallway using recyclable bottles or cartons
  • Hide and seek
  • Jump or hop over a piece of rope or long piece of string. Count how many jumps/hops you can do in a minute, then try and better it!
  • Dress-ups
  • Build a cubby house, tent or fortress using sheets, chairs, tables or cardboard boxes.
Page last updated on: 13 May 2020