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By Faith Barbare, Owner and Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Nutrition Specialist at SimplyFit

It comes as no surprise that there has been an overwhelming increase in childhood obesity over the years. Children have a natural instinct to get up and get moving, but with today’s technology and the need to meet curriculum standards, children are spending less time performing physical activities.   

Since 1990, the obesity rate in children has grown at an alarming 60%. As teachers, it should be part of our mission to get our class up and moving as much as possible. Children are full of energy and allowing them to use fitness as an outlet can go a long way in the classroom. Allowing them to get out their wiggles in a structured way helps them stay focused and can make nap time easier for everyone involved.

Fitness in the classroom is also a great way for kids to reduce stress while working on their social, emotional, and mental development. Getting preschool kids active in structured play helps them learn to work with their classmates and follow instructions. Keeping children active at a young age can reduce their risk of health problems as adults; such as, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mental illnesses. Getting children involved with fitness in the classroom builds a strong foundation that will be beneficial for years to come. As a former pre-school teacher, I wanted to share some of the games and activities that I used to use to get my students moving.

Fitness Lesson Plan Ideas

Class Activities

The National Association of Sports and Physical Education recommends that children get 60 minutes of structured play and 60 minutes of free play each day. Structured play is playing with a purpose and is teacher lead.

Here are some great ideas to get your preschoolers moving and learning at the same time.

Small-Group Activities

Music and Movement

One of the best ways to get kids moving is by turning on the music. It’s a natural feeling to want to get up and dance. There are plenty of options to keep things interesting. From freeze dance to learning new moves to a song, there is something for every age.

Story Books and Movement

There are tons of books you can use to get your kids moving. One of my all-time favorites is Stretch by Doreen Cronin. I used this story after we came in from recess to get my students to calm down and refocus for the rest of the class. It gets them stretching and working out the wiggles.

Here are some other great storybooks to get your class moving:

Rainy Day Activities

For those rainy days that have you stuck indoors, here are some great games to play with the class when space is available. Remember, structured play is just as important as free play. Starting recess time with a fun game can get everyone playing together.

Bringing It All Together

It’s clear, there is no shortage of activities for preschool kids. Sometimes we have to think outside of the box or head to Pinterest to get the ideas flowing. Whether the kids are up dancing to their favorite song or calming down with a yoga stretch on the floor, there is something for every kid and any unit.

The best way to get your kids moving is to get up and join them. Show them just how fun it is to get moving. Anytime you can pair learning with fitness you’ve created a game and a positive correlation between the two. How will you get your preschool class moving today?

If you have any question, please drop them in the comments or reach out to me through the “Contact Us” form. 

(This post contains affiliate links.)