Infants’ and young children’s participation in physical activity is critical to their overall health, development of motor skills, social skills, and maintenance of healthy weight (11). Daily physical activity promotes young children’s gross motor development and provides numerous health benefits, including improved fitness and cardiovascular health, healthy bone development, improved sleep, and improved mood and sense of well-being (12). During outdoor play, children learn about their environment, science, and nature (10).
Free play, active play, and outdoor play are essential components of young children’s development (10). Children learn through play, developing gross motor, socioemotional, and cognitive skills. Time spent outdoors has been found to be a strong, consistent predictor of children’s physical activity (8). Children can accumulate opportunities for activity over the course of several shorter segments of at least 10 minutes each (9).
A least-restrictive environment should be encouraged at all times (7).Ĭhildren should have adequate space for indoor and outdoor play. Infants should not be seated for more than 15 minutes at a time, except during meals or naps (5). Infant equipment, such as swings, stationary activity centers, infant seats (eg, bouncers), and molded seats, should only be used for short periods, if used at all. Opportunities to actively enjoy physical activity should be incorporated into part-time programs by prorating these recommendations accordingly (eg, 20 minutes of outdoor play for every 3 hours in the facility).Īctive play should never be withheld from children who misbehave (eg, child is kept indoors to help another caregiver/teacher while the rest of the children go outside) (6). However, children with out-of-control behavior may need 5 minutes or fewer to calm themselves or settle down before resuming cooperative play or activities. Structured activities have been shown to produce higher levels of physical activity in young children, therefore it is recommended that caregivers/teachers incorporate 2 or more short, structured activities or games daily that promote physical activity (5). The infant will lift his/her head and use his/her arms to try to see your face (3,4). Lie on your back and place the infant on your chest. Reaching to different points in the circle will allow him/her to develop the appropriate muscles to roll over, scoot on his/her belly, and crawl.Ĭ. Place toys in a circle around the infant. Place yourself or a toy just out of the infant’s reach during playtime to get him/her to reach for you or the toy.ī. There are many ways to promote tummy time with infants:Ī. Beginning on the first day at the early care and education program, caregivers/teachers should interact with an awake infant on his/her tummy for short periods (3–5 minutes), increasing the amount of time as the infant shows he/she enjoys the activity (3). Infants should have supervised tummy time every day when they are awake. Preschoolers should be allowed 90 to 120 minutes per 8-hour day for moderate to vigorous physical activity, including running (1,2). Toddlers should be allowed 60 to 90 minutes per 8-hour day for moderate to vigorous physical activity, including running.ī. Total time allotted for moderate to vigorous activities:Ī. These outdoor times can be curtailed somewhat during adverse weather conditions in which children may still play safely outdoors for shorter periods, but the time of indoor activity should increase so the total amount of exercise remains the same. Toddlers (12 – 35 months) and preschoolers (3–6 years) should be allowed 60 to 90 total minutes of outdoor play (1). There is no recommended duration of infants’ outdoor play.ī. Infants (birth–12 months of age) should be taken outside 2 to 3 times per day, as tolerated. The total time allotted for outdoor play and moderate to vigorous indoor or outdoor physical activity can be adjusted for the age group and weather conditions.Ī. Continuous opportunities to develop and practice age-appropriate gross motor and movement skills Two or more structured or caregiver/teacher/adult-led activities or games that promote movement over the course of the day-indoor or outdoorĬ. Two to 3 occasions of active play outdoors, weather permitting (see Standard 3.1.3.2: Playing Outdoors for appropriate weather conditions)ī. Children should have ample opportunity to do moderate to vigorous activities, such as running, climbing, dancing, skipping, and jumping, to the extent of their abilities.Īll children, birth to 6 years of age, should participate daily in:Ī. The facility should promote all children’s active play every day.