Physical activity is critical to all aspects of children's development. Physical activity has proven 

long-term benefits such as reducing blood pressure, decreasing body fat, decreasing the risk of 

coronary heart disease, and building healthy bones, muscles, and joints. The importance of 

promoting positive attitudes towards physical fitness is supported by the Australian Institute of 

Health and Welfare (2012, pp. 60-61), which reports the following: 

*Overweight and obese children are at risk of serious health conditions in both the short 

and long terms, such as asthma, cardiovascular conditions, and Type 2 diabetes. 

*Obesity becomes more entrenched throughout early childhood and possibly less 

reversible by the middle school years. 

* In 2007-08 it was found that 23 percent of children in Australia aged five to 14 years: 

were overweight (17 percent) or obese (6 percent). 

Helping children to develop a positive attitude to physical activity should begin in the 

early childhood years. Brain research (Gable & Hunting 2000; Schiller 2001; Shonkoff& 

Phillips 2000) has revealed that the best time for getting basic movement skills is 

between birth and five years, while the optimum time for getting fine motor skills is 

from birth to nine years. 

By two years of age, children should have daily experiences that include climbing, 

walking, running, kicking, throwing, catching, and jumping. Gradually, movement should 

also includes joint hand-eye and foot-eye coordination. 

Physical activity is also intricately linked to feelings of self-worth. Kids that are 

Literally active tend to have greater self-confidence as well as better self-confidence Physically fit children are also more mentally alert and better able to remain on task. 

Physical activities for young children need to be developmentally appropriate and 

fun - for example:

💃🕺dancing to music

🏋️‍♀️🤾‍♂️simple exercises to music - young children can follow simple exercises demonstrated 

by the educator 

🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ marching and swinging arms to marching band music 

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️ running games - run to the fence, touch your toes and run back

🐸🐰🦘 movements - jump like a frog/rabbit/kangaroo 

🎠🛴 riding "horses' on sticks 

 🏀⛹️‍♀️playing games with balls - throwing, kicking, catching) 

🧍‍♀️🧍‍♂️marching or jogging in place

🧎‍♂️🏃‍♂️🧗‍♂️moving different body parts as fast as possible

🤸‍♀️💪completing a fitness circuit where children can run, jump and climb 

🏀🤾‍♂️making use of a basketball hoop at an appropriate height