When you have little ones it can seem like all they do is move all day every day. They’re up with the sun, waking you with a ‘mummy’ or ‘daddy’, and from there it can seem non-stop for the rest of the day. You know they’re moving but is it the sort of movement they need to live healthy little lives?
We did some digging and discovered that it’s not necessarily the type of movement but how long that matters. The amount of time also changes as they grow.
Movement for toddlers and pre-schoolers
The Department of Health recommends that toddlers (1 to 3 years) and pre-schoolers (3 to 5 years) should be physically active every day for at least three hours, spread throughout the day.
The three hours of physical activity doesn’t have to be all at once either, they share. It can be accumulated throughout the day and can include light activity like standing up, moving around and playing.
Inspiring your little ones
There are many different ways you can inspire your little ones to move too. They can:
- play with different sized balls
- twirl and run with streamers
- play with balloons and punch, kick or throw them to keep them off the ground
- blow bubbles and chase them through the air
- play games like hide-and-seek, obstacle courses, follow the leader, stuck in the mud, or tip/tag games
- move to music or try action songs like ‘Ring-A-Ring-A-Rosie’ or ‘Head Shoulders-Knees and Toes’
- walk barefoot on different surfaces like try grass, carpet, concrete or sand
- pretend to move like different animals
- play dress ups and act out different roles.
How we help our students move
When we read this impressive list we silently ticked each one off as activities we do in our pre-school ballet classes. We love to help little ones move in a fun and creative way while building their confidence and capability as little dancers. And a class with us is one of the three hours ticked off for you too.
Additionally, we use props as part of our classes to make the activities more active. You can even continue this sort of play and movement at home as the materials you use don’t need to be expensive.
Props that you can use
For infants to encourage reaching, stretching, crawling and moving you can use:
- Boxes
- Pots
- Pans
- Streamers
- Hoops
- Toys.
For toddlers and pre-schoolers, choose toys and play materials that encourage movement and help develop skills like running, kicking, throwing and catching, such as:
- Balls
- Bats
- Tricycles
- Kites.
Movement for children aged 6 and older
When your child or children get a little older the amount of time needed for movement reduces but isn’t any less important. The Mayo Clinic recommends that children and adolescents age 6 and older need at least an hour a day of physical activity. It reports that most of the hour should be either moderate or vigorous aerobic activity. In addition, children should participate in muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities at least three days a week.
Common activities cover all bases
Many common school-age activities — such as playing on playground equipment and jumping rope — cover all the bases at once. Organised sports such as baseball or soccer are a great way to stay fit too, as are dance classes.
Use creativity for your child
But get creative as you search for activities your child enjoys. The Mayo clinic recommends if your child:
- is artistically inclined, consider a nature hike to collect leaves and rocks for use in a collage.
- likes to climb, head for the nearest jungle gym or climbing wall.
- loves reading, walk or bike to a local library for a book.
Or, one of our favourites, simply turn on your child’s favourite music and dance in the living room.
Cut back on screen time
If you find it hard to pull your child away from the TV, computer or smartphone to get them out moving more, you could try:
- Making meal time your family time and turn off the TV.
- Setting limits and having rules around screen time.
- Making your kids’ bedrooms TV and computer free.
- Playing music or stories on CDs instead.
Be the example for your little one
And join in the Mayo Clinic suggests. By being active with your child you can encourage their lifelong enjoyment of physical activity and you can benefit your own health at the same time.
You are also a role model as a parent so your child is more likely to be physically active if you make physical activity a family priority.
89 Comments
Took the time to read the comments on this post too and they were also worth reading, and a stop at focusdrivenprogression suggested the community quality matches the content quality, when the conversation around a piece is as good as the piece itself you know you have found a real corner of the internet.
Felt the post had been written without using a single buzzword, and a look at growthmoveswithprecision continued that clean vocabulary, content free of jargon and trendy phrases reads better and ages better and this site has clearly committed to a vocabulary that will not feel dated in three years which is impressive editorially.
Now feeling the small relief of finding writing that does not condescend, and a stop at ideasbecomemovement extended that respect for readers, content that treats its audience as capable adults rather than as people to be managed produces a different reading experience and this site has clearly chosen the respectful approach across all pieces.
Honestly the simplicity of the explanation made the topic click for me in a way other writeups had not, and a look at growthadvancescleanly continued that clarity into related areas, when a writer gets the level of explanation right the reader does the heavy lifting themselves and the post just enables it.
My professional context would benefit from having this kind of resource available, and a look at actionturnsvision extended the professional applicability, the rare site that contributes meaningfully to professional work rather than just personal interest is content with multiplied value and this one is providing that professional utility consistently across multiple pieces.
Ended up here on a wandering afternoon and was glad I stayed for the read, and a stop at buildtractionthoughtfully extended the wandering into a proper exploration of the site, the kind of place that rewards aimless clicking with something genuinely interesting rather than the shallow content that mostly populates the modern open web.
However casually I came to this site I have ended up reading carefully, and a look at clarityguidesgrowth continued earning that careful reading, the conversion from casual visitor to careful reader is something content earns rather than demands and this site has accomplished that conversion for me over the course of just a few pieces.
Took longer than expected to finish because I kept stopping to think, and a stop at clarityguidesmotion did the same to me, content that provokes thought rather than just delivering information is in a different category and the team here is clearly working at that higher level rather than just cranking out posts.
Bookmark earned, calendar reminder set, share queued, all from one good post, and a look at focusdefinesdirection did the same, when a single reading session triggers multiple downstream actions you know the content has actually moved me beyond the page and this site is moving me at that higher level reliably.
I learned more from this short post than from longer articles I read earlier today, and a stop at forwardenergyengine added even more useful detail without going off topic, this site clearly knows how to keep things focused without sacrificing depth which is a hard balance to strike for any writer.
Now planning to recommend this site in a context where my recommendations are taken seriously, and a stop at forwardmotionengine confirmed I should make that recommendation soon, the small but real act of recommending content into spaces where my taste matters is something I take seriously and this site is worth the recommendation.
Most blog writing on this subject reaches for the same handful of arguments and this post avoided them, and a look at forwardmotionframework continued the original treatment, content that finds its own path through territory other writers have flattened is content with real authorial energy and this site has plenty of that distinctive energy.
Honest take is that this was better than I expected when I clicked through, and a look at focusguidesmovement reinforced that, the bar for online content has dropped so much that finding something thoughtful and well constructed feels almost noteworthy now which says more about the average than about this site itself.
Quietly the writers approach to the topic differs from the dominant takes I have been encountering, and a stop at ideasflowwithclarity extended that distinctive approach, content that maintains a different perspective without explicitly arguing against the dominant ones is content with confident editorial identity and this site has that confidence throughout pieces.
Coming back to this one, definitely, and a quick visit to signalcreatesdirectionalflow only made me more sure of that, the kind of writing that makes you want to set aside time later rather than rushing through it now while distracted by everything else competing for attention on the screen today across so many tabs.
Came away with some new perspectives I had not considered before, and after signalactivatesdirection those ideas felt more complete, the kind of content that stays with you a little while after reading rather than slipping out the moment you switch tabs and move on with your day to whatever comes next.
Came away with a small but real shift in perspective on the topic, and a stop at clearbrick pushed that shift a bit further, the kind of subtle reframing that good writing does to a reader without making a big deal of it is something I always appreciate when it happens which is sadly not that often.
Speaking from the perspective of having read widely on the topic this site offers something distinct, and a look at growthmoveswithpurpose reinforced that distinctness, the rare site that contributes something genuinely original to a saturated topic is the rare site worth following carefully and this one has demonstrated that original contribution capability today.
Took longer than expected to finish because I kept stopping to think, and a stop at ideasneedmomentum did the same to me, content that provokes thought rather than just delivering information is in a different category and the team here is clearly working at that higher level rather than just cranking out posts.
Stayed longer than planned because each section earned the next, and a look at growthmoveswithfocus kept that pulling effect going across more pages, the kind of subtle pull that good writing exerts on attention is something I find harder and harder to resist when I encounter it on the open web today.
A piece that did not lecture even when it had clear positions, and a look at forwardthinkingengine maintained the same teaching without preaching tone, finding the line between informing and lecturing is hard and most sites land on the wrong side of it but this one has clearly figured out how to inform without becoming preachy.
Worth bookmarking and sharing with anyone interested in the topic, that is my honest take, and a stop at signalpowersgrowth reinforces that, the kind of generous resource that makes the open web feel worth defending against the constant pressure to retreat into walled gardens and curated feeds today everywhere I look across all my devices.
Closed the tab with a small sense of finality rather than the usual rushed exit, and a stop at clearcoast produced the same considered closing, when reading ends with deliberate satisfaction rather than impatient skip you know the time was well spent and this site is producing those satisfying endings consistently across what I read.
The post made the topic feel approachable without making it feel trivial, that is a fine balance, and a stop at claritycreatesmomentum maintained the same balance, finding the middle ground between welcoming and serious is genuinely difficult and the writers here have clearly figured out how to consistently hit it well across many different posts.
However many similar pages I have read this one taught me something new, and a stop at growthmovesintentionally added more new material, content that contributes genuinely fresh information rather than recycling what is already widely available is content with real informational value and this site is providing that informational freshness at a notable rate.
Speaking from the perspective of having read widely on the topic this site offers something distinct, and a look at signalcreatesmomentum reinforced that distinctness, the rare site that contributes something genuinely original to a saturated topic is the rare site worth following carefully and this one has demonstrated that original contribution capability today.
Well crafted post, the structure flows naturally from one point to the next without forcing transitions, and a stop at signalclarifiesaction kept the same flow going, you can tell when a writer has thought about how their content reads rather than just what it contains and this is one of those examples.
Felt the post had been quietly polished rather than aggressively styled, and a look at coilcolt confirmed the same understated polish, sites whose quality reveals itself slowly rather than announcing itself loudly are the kind I trust more deeply because the trust is not based on first impressions of marketing but actual substance.
Speaking as someone who reads a lot on this topic this site has earned a high position in my source rankings, and a stop at directionsetsvelocity reinforced that ranking, the informal ranking of sources for a topic is something I maintain mentally and this site has moved into the upper portion of those rankings clearly.
Now considering the post as evidence that careful blog writing is still possible, and a look at progressmovespurposefully extended that evidence, the broader question of whether the modern web can sustain quality writing has obvious empirical answers in sites like this one and seeing them is reassuring even when they remain a minority overall today.
Worth recommending broadly to anyone who reads on the topic, and a look at progressmovesbydesign only confirms that, the rare combination of accessibility and depth in this site makes it suitable for both newcomers and people who already know the area which is hard to pull off in any blog format today and rarely managed.
Honest take is that this was better than I expected when I clicked through, and a look at ideasunlockmotion reinforced that, the bar for online content has dropped so much that finding something thoughtful and well constructed feels almost noteworthy now which says more about the average than about this site itself.
Following the post through to the end without my attention drifting once, and a look at signalturnsideasforward earned the same uninterrupted attention, content that holds attention without manipulating it is content with substantive pull and this site has demonstrated that substantive pull across multiple pieces in a single reading session reliably here today.
Well structured and easy to read, that combination is rarer than people think, and a stop at compassbraid confirmed the same standard runs across the rest of the site, definitely the kind of place I will be coming back to when this topic comes up in conversation later again over the weeks ahead.
Bookmarking this for later, the kind of resource I want to keep nearby, and a quick look at ideasintomotion confirmed the rest of the site is worth the same treatment, definitely going into my reference folder for the next time the topic comes up at work or in conversation with someone who asks.
Decided not to comment because the post said what needed saying, and a stop at actionshapesdirection continued that complete feel, content that does not invite obvious additions or corrections from readers is content that has been carefully considered and this site appears to consistently produce pieces that satisfy rather than provoke unnecessary follow ups.
Worth pointing out the careful word choice in this post, no buzzwords and no jargon, and a look at forwardenergyreleased continued that disciplined vocabulary, sites that resist the pull of trendy language are sites that will read well in five years and this one is clearly built for that kind of long durability.
Generally I find the content on similar topics frustrating in specific ways and this post avoided all of them, and a look at clarityshapesdirection continued that frustration free experience, content that sidesteps the standard failure modes of its genre is content with editorial awareness and this site has clearly studied what fails elsewhere consistently.
A clear case of writing that does not try to do too much in one post, and a look at compassbulb maintained the same scoped discipline, posts that try to cover too much end up covering nothing well and this site has clearly chosen scope discipline as a core editorial principle which shows up clearly in what I read.
Reading this in a moment of low energy still kept my attention, and a stop at signalcreatesalignment continued that engagement under suboptimal conditions, content that survives the reader being tired is content with extra reserves of pull and this site has the kind of writing that holds up even when I am not at my reading best.
Quality writing that respects the reader’s intelligence without overloading them, and a quick look at focuspowersprogress reflected that approach, a balanced thoughtful site that earns trust by being consistent rather than by shouting about how trustworthy it is which is the usual approach online sadly across most content categories.
Felt like the writer was speaking directly to someone with my level of curiosity, neither talking down nor showing off, and a stop at directionpowersvelocity kept that comfortable matching going, finding writing that meets you where you are rather than asking you to climb up or stoop down feels great every time it happens.
Will recommend this to a couple of friends who have been asking about this exact topic, and after conchclove I have even more reason to do so, the kind of site that earns word of mouth rather than chasing it through aggressive marketing or paid placements is always a treat to find online.
Recommended without reservation for anyone interested in the topic at any level of expertise, and a look at growthflowsbychoice only strengthens that recommendation, this site clearly knows how to serve readers across a range of backgrounds without watering down the content or talking past anyone in the audience which is genuinely impressive to see.
Saving this link for the next time someone asks me about this topic, and a look at cotboil expanded what I will be sharing with them, this is the kind of resource that makes a real difference when you are trying to point a friend to something useful and reliable rather than generic marketing pages.
Reading this prompted me to send the link to two different people for two different reasons, and a stop at cotchoice provided ammunition for a third share, content that suits multiple audiences without being generic enough to be useless to any of them is genuinely valuable and this site has that multi audience quality clearly.
Stayed longer than planned because each section earned the next, and a look at cotcircle kept that pulling effect going across more pages, the kind of subtle pull that good writing exerts on attention is something I find harder and harder to resist when I encounter it on the open web today.
Better than most of the writing I have come across on this topic recently, simpler and more direct, and a look at craftcanal continued in that same way, a real outlier in a crowded space full of repetitive content that says little while taking up a lot of reader time today which is unfortunate.
Genuinely changed how I think about a small piece of the topic, which does not happen often online, and a look at cryptbeach added another nudge in the same direction, the kind of writing that earns a small mental shift rather than just confirming what you already thought before reading is a sign of careful thought.
Good post, the kind that respects the reader by getting to the point quickly without skipping the details that matter, and a short look at cryptbuilt confirmed that approach is consistent across the site which is rare to find online these days, definitely a place I will return to soon.
Quietly the writers approach to the topic differs from the dominant takes I have been encountering, and a stop at cubeasana extended that distinctive approach, content that maintains a different perspective without explicitly arguing against the dominant ones is content with confident editorial identity and this site has that confidence throughout pieces.
Felt the post was written for someone like me without explicitly addressing me, and a look at darechip produced the same fit, when content lands on its target without pandering you know the writer has done careful audience thinking rather than relying on demographic targeting or interest signals to do the work of editorial decisions.
A clear case of writing that does not try to do too much in one post, and a look at dewcarve maintained the same scoped discipline, posts that try to cover too much end up covering nothing well and this site has clearly chosen scope discipline as a core editorial principle which shows up clearly in what I read.
Genuine reaction is that this site clicked with how I like to read, and a look at dewchip kept that comfortable fit going, sometimes you find a place online whose editorial decisions just align with your preferences and when that happens it is worth recognising and supporting through repeat engagement consistently going forward.
This actually answered the question I had been searching for, and after I checked jalaxis I had a few more pieces I had not realised I needed, that is the sign of a site that knows what its readers want before they even know how to ask it which is impressive.
Most attempts at writing on this topic feel like they are missing something and this post finally identified what was missing, and a look at lakepeach extended that diagnostic clarity, content that names what is wrong with adjacent treatments while doing better itself is content with both critical and constructive value and this site has both.
Reading this gave me material for a conversation I needed to have anyway, and a stop at lushmarble added even more talking points, content that connects to upcoming social or professional needs rather than just being interesting in the abstract is the kind that earns priority placement in my attention these days routinely.
Took some notes for a project I am working on, and a stop at macrolush added more raw material to those notes, content that contributes to my own creative work rather than just being interesting in the moment is the kind I value most and the kind I will keep coming back to repeatedly.
Reading this gave me material for a conversation I needed to have anyway, and a stop at unitybondcollective added even more talking points, content that connects to upcoming social or professional needs rather than just being interesting in the abstract is the kind that earns priority placement in my attention these days routinely.
Worth recognising the absence of the usual blog tropes here, and a look at unityharbor continued that fresh quality, sites that avoid the standard moves of the medium read as more original even when the content is on familiar topics and this one has clearly chosen its own path through the conventional terrain skilfully.
Bookmark folder reorganised slightly to make this site easier to find, and a look at trustcraft earned the same accessibility upgrade, the small organisational moves I make for sites I expect to return to often are themselves a signal of how much I trust them and this site triggered those moves naturally.
This one is staying open in a tab for the rest of the day so I can come back and re read certain parts, and a look at unitycrest suggests I will be doing the same with a few more pages here too, this is going to be a deep dive over the coming hours.
Really grateful for content like this, it does not waste my time and it does not insult my intelligence either, and a quick look at actionwithstructure was the same, balanced respectful writing that makes a person feel welcome rather than rushed through pages of forced engagement just to keep clicking around.
Really grateful for content like this, it does not waste my time and it does not insult my intelligence either, and a quick look at buildgrowthsystems was the same, balanced respectful writing that makes a person feel welcome rather than rushed through pages of forced engagement just to keep clicking around.
Now planning to come back when I have the right kind of attention to read carefully, and a stop at trustcontinuum reinforced that plan, choosing the right moment to read certain content is a quiet form of respect for the work and this site is generating those careful planning behaviours from me consistently as a reader.
A quiet kind of confidence runs through the writing, and a look at executeprogress carried that same understated assurance, confidence without bragging is the most attractive register for online writing and the writers here have clearly developed it through practice rather than affecting it through stylistic tricks that would feel hollow eventually.
Saving this link for the next time someone asks me about this topic, and a look at actionmapsuccess expanded what I will be sharing with them, this is the kind of resource that makes a real difference when you are trying to point a friend to something useful and reliable rather than generic marketing pages.
Bookmark folder reorganised slightly to make this site easier to find, and a look at capitalbondhub earned the same accessibility upgrade, the small organisational moves I make for sites I expect to return to often are themselves a signal of how much I trust them and this site triggered those moves naturally.
Honest reaction is that this is the kind of writing I would defend in a conversation about good blog content, and a look at strategyforwardpath reinforced that, the rare site whose work I would actively recommend rather than just tolerate is the kind I want to support through return visits regularly.
Decided this was the best thing I had read all morning, and a stop at forwardplanninglab kept that ranking intact, ranking my reading is something I do mentally throughout the day and the top rank is competitive and not easily won but this site won it without needing to overstate its claims for that.
Thanks for treating the topic with the seriousness it deserves without becoming pompous about it, and a stop at capitalbonded continued that balanced treatment, the gap between earnest and self serious is huge and writers who can stay on the right side of it earn my respect when I find them online today.
My friends would appreciate a few of these posts and I will be sending links accordingly, and a look at buildclearoutcomes added more pages to my share queue, content that earns shares to specific people in specific contexts is content with social utility and this site is generating those targeted shares from me consistently lately.
Looking at this from the perspective of someone tired of generic content the contrast is striking, and a look at ideasneedmotion maintained that distinctive feel, sites with strong editorial identity stand out against the bland background of algorithmic content and this one has clearly developed an identity worth recognising through careful attention.
Glad the writer did not feel the need to argue with imaginary critics in the post itself, and a stop at trustsynergy kept the same focused approach going, defensive writing wastes the reader time and confidence on positions that did not need defending and this post has clearly avoided that common failure.
Solid value for anyone willing to read carefully, and a look at signalthefuture extends that value across the rest of the site, this is the kind of place that rewards return visits rather than offering everything in a single splashy post and then leaving readers nothing to come back for later which is unfortunately common.
Skipped the related products section because there was none, and a stop at capitalbondcraft also lacked any aggressive monetisation, content that is not constantly trying to convert me into a customer or subscriber is content that has confidence in its own value and that confidence shows up as a different reading experience.
Got pulled in by the headline and stayed because the content actually delivered on the promise, and a stop at growthledger kept that trust intact, when a site lives up to its own framing it earns the right to keep showing up in my browser tabs going forward indefinitely from here on out really.
Decided to set a calendar reminder to revisit, and a stop at bondedgrowth extended that revisit list, calendar entries for content are a level of commitment I rarely make but when I do they signal a higher regard than a simple bookmark and this site has earned that calendar tier of relationship from me today.
Halfway through reading I knew this would be one to bookmark, and a look at bondedhorizon confirmed that early intuition, when bookmark intent forms before finishing a post you know the writing has cleared a quality bar that most content fails to clear and this site has cleared it on multiple visits already.
Considered as a whole this site has developed a coherent point of view that comes through in individual pieces, and a look at securecapitalbond continued displaying that coherence, sites with a unified perspective rather than a grab bag of takes are sites with editorial maturity and this one has clearly developed that maturity through years of work.
Now thinking about how to apply some of this to a project I have been planning, and a look at secureunity added more material for the planning, content that connects to my actual creative work rather than just being interesting in the abstract is the kind that earns priority placement in my reading rotation consistently going forward.
Found something quietly useful here that I expect to return to, and a stop at trustalignment added more of the same, content with quiet utility ages well in a way that flashy hot takes do not and I have learned to weight quiet utility much higher when deciding what to bookmark for later use.
Speaking from the perspective of having read widely on the topic this site offers something distinct, and a look at unitypillar reinforced that distinctness, the rare site that contributes something genuinely original to a saturated topic is the rare site worth following carefully and this one has demonstrated that original contribution capability today.
Most attempts at writing on this topic feel like they are missing something and this post finally identified what was missing, and a look at bondedlegacyline extended that diagnostic clarity, content that names what is wrong with adjacent treatments while doing better itself is content with both critical and constructive value and this site has both.
Reading this triggered a small but real correction in something I had assumed, and a stop at trustconverge extended that corrective effect, content that updates my beliefs through evidence rather than rhetoric is content with intellectual integrity and this site has earned that label consistently across the pieces I have read so far today.
Really thankful for posts that respect a reader’s time, this one does, and a quick look at unitytrustworks was the same, no need to scroll through endless intros just to get to the actual content, that approach alone is enough reason to come back here regularly for the kind of writing offered.
Now noticing the post fit a particular gap in my reading without my having articulated the gap before, and a look at trustlinecore extended that gap filling effect, content that meets needs I had not consciously formulated is content with reader insight and this site has clearly developed that anticipatory editorial sense across many pieces.
Time spent here today felt productive in the way that good reading sessions sometimes do, and a stop at explorelongtermgrowth extended that productive feeling across the rest of the morning, the difference between productive reading and merely passing time is real and this site is consistently on the productive side for me lately.
Honest take is that I will probably forget most of what I read online today but this post is one I will remember, and a stop at learnandimprovecontinuously kept that same memorable quality going, certain writing leaves a residue in the mind in a way most content simply does not manage.