Childhood fitness promotes healthy growth and development. It’s crucial because it helps build stronger bones and muscles and is key to improving your child’s cardiovascular health. Another significant benefit of physical activity is that it allows children to sleep better, which is a welcome advantage for most parents.
Active Play in Child Care
Hopscotch, statues, and “Tag, you’re it!” are just some games that can keep children engaged for hours if you let them. As a parent, it’s essential to prioritize daycares that provide quality physical activities as part of their regular programming. Active childcare providers lead to active toddlers, and that’s precisely what you want.
So, here’s what you should look for to ensure your child will get a healthy amount of physical activity at a daycare center.
- An active play area indoors
Because of weather and other uncertainties, play cannot always occur outdoors. But toddlers still need space to climb, jump, and cause a bit of havoc as they have fun. Therefore, an effective care program should have enough space to keep children active indoors as well as outdoors.
- Scheduled times for unstructured play
Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Most daycare programs achieve this by structuring two outdoor play sessions every day. Doing so helps improve concentration in kids as not even adults can focus for multiple hours at a time. In addition, free play allows children to use their imagination and round around until they exhaust themselves. It’s also a chance for care providers to engage with children while respecting their need for active playtime.
- Structured activities that promote play
Children learn through games and play, whether that’s math, reading, or problem-solving skills. Some active play activities you can find in a good daycare include:
- Obstacle courses
- The use of props to learn numbers, colors, and shapes
- Dance parties
- Acting out stories during reading time
The Benefits of Physical Activity at Daycare
The increasing use of technology during playtime means children move less and are less physically active. The most unfortunate part is that children benefit physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally from physical activities. Childhood fitness programs can also help build self-confidence and improve concentration and coordination.
With rising childhood obesity rates, you want to ensure that your child gets adequate physical activity. Healthy eating habits and a passion for sports and fitness can be nurtured right from early childhood. Daycare can also be an excellent place for children to learn about the link between health and nutrition.
One of the many fun parts of daycare is playtime. Choose a daycare that prioritizes childhood fitness and promotes a healthy lifestyle for your toddler.
Contact The Learning Center
Contact us to learn more about our early childhood education programs in Windsor, South Windsor, and Manchester, CT. You may reach us at (860) 643-8639 or visit our contact page.