Senior Fitness

Top Tips for Entertaining Children : Exercise & Play

In today’s society, children tend to opt for non-active ways of entertaining themselves such as videogames or watching television. It is very important for their development and health that they partake in a wide variety of activities. This article gives some pointers for entertaining children and improving their overall health and fitness, while keeping them entertained.

The importance of fresh air and exercise

It is very important for children to have some form of exercise every day. Physical activity helps children to develop strength and to become mentally alert and stay healthy.

In today’s society when the lifestyles of many children allow for far less opportunity for physical exercise than in the past, it is vital that adults recognise the need to plan for physical activity. Not so very long ago most children had to walk to and from school however nowadays, the majority of children travel by car or bus to school eliminating this chance for exercise.

Exercise in the early years should be fun and enjoyable. Children need space to run, stretch and explore and, whilst space can be limited indoors, gardens, parks, playgrounds etc. can provide excellent opportunities for children to exercise outside. Outdoor play and exercise should be encouraged all year round and can be enjoyed whatever the weather, providing children are dressed appropriately.

Physical Exercise : The Benefits

* It improves balance

* It improves coordination

* It improves flexibility

* It strengthens muscles

* It strengthens joints

* It improves appetite

* It increases bone density

* It increases blood circulation

* It develops strength and stamina

* It develops lung capacity

* It helps the digestive process

All of these benefits give the child a feeling of well being and also encourage interaction and cooperation. It is important that adults make sure that children are aware of the effects that exercise can have on the body and that they are prepared to set aside times for rest during activities. This can be a good opportunity to talk to the children about how they feel before, during and after a vigorous exercise routine.

Making exercise fun

When we talk about physical development we automatically think of exercise and outdoor play but “physical” exercise covers much more than just gross motor skills. Physical development covers the whole of the body and exercise is about how children learn to control every part of their body including:

Gross motor skills
– movements which involve the arms and legs such as throwing and kicking a ball.

Fine motor skills
– small movements involving the whole of the hand such as catching a ball. Fine manipulative skills may also fall into this category and these involve controlling a pencil when learning to write or draw.

Coordination skills
– this involves the ability to combine two or more skills at the same time. Coordinating the eye and foot for example whilst negotiating stairs or using the hand and eye when building bricks or threading beads.

Balance
– Closely linked with coordination. Children learn how to control their bodies whilst riding a bike for example, or walking in a straight line.

Locomotive skills
– these skills involve controlling how the child runs, jumps and walks. It is absolutely vital that children enjoy exercise. Expecting too much from them at the start or pushing them too far may put them off exercise and could potentially damage their opinion of exercise in the long term. Allow the children to explore at their own pace and to do only what they are happy and confident doing. Avoid over encouragement and never “goad” them into trying something they are not ready for as, in addition to this being dangerous, they may also lose confidence if they are unable to carry out a certain task.

Indoor Physical Play

It is probably true to say that the most vigorous activity will take place outdoors. However it is important that child carers encourage both gross and fine motor skills indoors as well as out. It should be relatively easy for most childminding settings to be able to incorporate indoor physical play.

Dance, drama, active games, action rhymes and indoor obstacle courses are excellent ways of helping children to develop an awareness of how their bodies work whilst making the process fun and enjoyable. Most children enjoy dancing and this can be done either through listening to music and moving freely or it may involve building up set dance steps and routines which the children can learn. Encourage the children to select their own music and allow them to have a say in how the dance routine takes shape.

Outdoor Physical Play

It is perhaps much easier to think of ways for children to take part in physical exercise outdoors as space is not limited. There are many different games that children can take part in such as traditional ball games like:

* Football

* Cricket

* Rugby

* Tennis

* Golf

Other team games, such as “Tug of War” are ideal for outdoor play.

An outdoor obstacle course using hoops, balls, cones, skittles, skipping ropes and bean bags is an excellent way of incorporating outdoor physical exercise and this will encourage a variety of skills including balance and coordination. The course can be altered and extended as the child’s ability progresses. Ride on toys, bicycles, tricycles, toy cars and other vehicles are another good source of exercise and these will strengthen the legs and improve balance. Fix stabilisers to bicycles initially and remove them once the child has gained sufficient balance.

Do not restrict outdoor play to fine, sunny weather; instead allow the children to dress in Wellingtons and waterproofs and to enjoy all of the British weather.

This article has been put together by the distance learning organisation Start Learning who are experts in home study. If you want to find out more about Starting a Child Care Business or many other distance learning courses please browse their website:
Start Learning

A good way to find out more about Entertaining Children is to sign up for a distance learning course on the subject. By studying in your free time and pace, you can gain the necessary knowledge while tailoring it to suit your schedule.

Kerrana McAvoy
Academic Director – Start Learning

Start Learning

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