Get Your Preschooler Fit

Five Fun Ways to Help Your Kids Exercise

Aug 17, 2007 Katelyn Thomas

Are your kids couch potatoes? Get your preschoolers up and moving with a few of these ideas for getting kids fit.

Computers, video games and television shows all have one thing in common. They are popular activities for kids that help lead to childhood obesity and a general lack of fitness. If your preschoolers are spending more time on the sofa than the family dog, it is time to get them up and moving. Try a few of these fun fitness activities for kids to help your children get in shape.

Walk like a duck - This game has been around for ages, but it is still fun today. It gets brains and bodies working, since your children will have to think about how different animals move. If you are working with more than one child, set the game up as a race and have them line up at the starting point. Explain that each child will be walking like a specific animal and they will be racing to the other end of the race course. Once they reach the other end, give them a new animal to imitate and send them off again. If you are playing this game with one child, you can time each type of walk to see which one is fastest.
Mirror me - This is a simple version of Follow the Leader. Make faces, touch your toes or stretch like a tree. Older preschoolers will enjoy trying to copy you as you hop or skip, as well.
Impossible things - Think of the silliest, most impossible things your child could do and have him or her try to do them. Touching your toe with your nose or your elbow with your tongue are two things that are sure to have your preschooler laughing as he or she exercises.
Singing Fit - Pick songs that can have movements added and start singing. Some great choices are "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" or "The Hokey Pokey". For older preschoolers, speeding up the songs as fast as you can keeps them fun.
March On - Create a family band to encourage your kids to get moving. They'll enjoy creating a racket with their instruments as they march. Young preschoolers will have enough of a challenge with lining up and marching in time to the music, but older preschoolers may be able to add a few simple routines, such as turning in a circle or marching a few steps backward.

Once you begin exercising with your preschoolers, you'll probably notice that they are not just getting a bit more fit. These games will help them burn off excess energy, develop coordination, follow directions and learn simple thinking skills. Most importantly, your kids will be having fun with fitness, which can help build a lifelong enjoyment of exercise.

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