Make fitness a fun part of your preschool program

Large motor development is a critical part of the growing young child. One aspect of large motor development is physical fitness. There are many ways to include physical fitness into your program. In today’s Bam Radio Broadcast, the experts shed light on ways you can incorporate physical fitness into your preschooler’s day. You will really want to listen to the broadcast so you can hear the different perspectives on helping children stay fit and the different ways you can easily and naturally add physical fitness to your program.

Fitting Fitness Into the Curriculum
Rae Pica with  Nikki Steven, Diane H. Craft, Ph.D., Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed.

Nikki Steven, Diane H. Craft, Ph.D., Deborah J. Stewart, M.Ed.

 You can listen to this Bam Radio Show Broadcast by clicking here or here!

Structured and Unstructured

During the interview, I discovered that children actually need about 1 to 2 hours of physical activities per day! You may be thinking that this is not possible with your busy schedule. But the experts on the radio show give great and simple ideas for how this can be done through both structured and unstructured activities.

Structured physical activity can be defined as “activities that are intentionally planned and implemented by an informed adult.”  Circle games like “Sally Goes Round the Sun” are just one example of a structured physical activity…

Unstructured physical activity can be defined as free play or times when the children can run around and get out some of their energy without a specific agenda or activity involved. Running on the play ground would be an example of this. And my class LOVES to run!

Both structured and unstructured play can provide children with opportunities for physical activities.

A simple plan for fitness

After listening to the experts, I was motivated to go back to my classroom and make sure I am also including simple fitness activities into my program…

Count to Five and Exercise!

I call our simple fitness plan “Count to Five and Exercise!”

I do a much better job at staying consistent with something when I have a plan. My “Count to Five and Exercise” plan simply consists of including four to five different morning stretches or exercises and as we do each one, we count to five.  For example, today we jogged in place and as we jogged we counted a slow, but steady and loud 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.  Then we switched to jumping jacks and counted to five again. Next we did arm swings, then tummy twists, and we ended with toe touches.  We counted to five for each of our exercises….

In the Bam Radio Show interview, the experts share other ways to integrate physical activities into your day easily and naturally.  Be sure to take a listen to all their advice and suggestions. You don’t want to miss it!

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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