Fun and Fitness: Active Sports Games for Preschoolers to Enjoy
With the proliferation of smart phones and their invasion into the lives of young children, getting your children to the playground can be a tough call.
Although preschool activities may adopt the use of physical exercise, activities, etc. yet supplementing the same with the best games and fun activities at home is a good idea.
Why are fun and fitness activities important?
With the advancement in technology, early-age education today relies heavily on audiovisual learning approaches to attain effective results. The best preschools however understand and encourage outdoor activities and learning by doing so that the kids adopt a healthy and active lifestyle balance.
With the top preschool centers, the following activities are included in the curriculum to encourage kids and keep them fit. Similarly, you too can adopt these to attain the right results –
- Scavenger hunt
No one can beat the fun of a timed scavenger hunt. make a list of possible hidden items scattered around the house. You can even ask your friends to join to make the activity fun and giggly.
Set the timer for the hunt and let them loose around the yard. The first child with the maximum number of items on his list wins. This activity burns a lot of energy and keeps the little ones on their tiny toes. This also makes for a fun game at birthday parties as well.
- Soft ball toss
Soft ball toss is a fun game that preschoolers can play to improve their aim and coordination. You can set up a target using a hula hoop or a box and have the children try to toss bean bags or softballs into it from a distance.
- Red light and green light
To play the game, choose a traffic cop from the kids. Line up all the kids on the start line and the traffic cop puts his back to them. On the green light, kids run up to the finish line without being spotted.
When a traffic cop shouts a red light, he turns and if a player is caught moving them he is sent back to the front line. The first person to finish the line wins and is the new cop on the block!
- Hopscotch
Hopscotch is a classic game that preschoolers love. You can draw a hopscotch board on the ground using chalk and have them hop from square to square while picking up a rock. It’s a fun way to work on balance and coordination.
- Twister
This is a game that both you and your kids can enjoy together. There is a strong focus on balance and the game promises giggles and smiles.
- Mini obstacle course
Make a small obstacle course in the backyard while using hoses, tires, lawn furniture, toys, etc. Create a course that has kids navigating through various obstacles like a sandbox, climbing over boxes, a mini swimming area, etc. You can also make them crawl underneath the chairs and similar low items. To add to the fun, time the entire course.
- Jump rope
Make your kids lose their excess energy by introducing hop, skip and double Dutch! This is an amazing way to spend a lot of different muscles and can help you to enjoy great physical activity outdoors.
For making the same a bit tough, add a song, sing rhymes and songs to time the jump.
- Garden kickball
Kickball is a fun game that preschoolers can play to improve their kicking and running skills.
You can set up a small field using cones or other markers and have the children take turns kicking a ball and running the bases.
- Balloon volley
Balloon volley is a fun way for preschoolers to work on their hand-eye coordination. You can use a balloon as a ball and have them try to keep it in the air by hitting it back and forth over a makeshift net or a line. The activity guarantees a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.
- Animal races
Unconventional races are fun. Choose races that are easy yet goofy and you will have a bunch of excited kids around. For this, choose from games like – bunny race, frog hop or jump, duck, bear walk, etc.
Similarly, you can try jumping jacks that help your kids to exercise their arms and legs. The entire process needs extreme coordination and stamina. Although these are easy to organize, it is hard to pull back kids from this tempting game.
- Relay race
Tiny tots love relay races because they get to run and compete with their friends.
You can set up a simple course using cones and have the children run back and forth while passing a beanbag. It’s a fun way to work on teamwork and improve locomotors skills.
- The tag game
To make the playschool education fun tag is a classic game that cannot get enough of.
You can play traditional tag or variations like freeze tag or tunnel tag. It remains a great way to get kids moving and improve their agility. It also improves neuromuscular coordination which further helps in promoting learning and fun.
- Pillow fights!
You can never go wrong with organising pillow fights and helping your preschooler learn about dodging and hitting!