Slaying Energy Vampires – Movement & Play

How to Maximize Your Stamina So You Can Keep Up with Your Preschooler

By Shannon Rainey

Do you ever get home after a long day and just want to sit down and binge-watch your favorite TV show? If you answered yes to that question, don’t worry, we have all been there. Even though we all know how important physical activity is for our health, some days it’s really hard to find the motivation to move. However, if you start moving more often and incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, you will see a multitude of health benefits that will help you keep up with your preschooler.

The human body works best when it’s active. Physical activity provides amazing benefits to our bodies. It lowers our blood pressure and our resting heart rate, improves our immune function (so we don’t catch our kids’ illnesses), improves our mental function, and increases our quality of sleep (to name a few). It is also known to enhance your mood by releasing “feel-good” endorphins which will make you feel better and happier.

Now, let’s talk about movement in preschoolers which is better known as play. Children learn best through play. Play is considered their “work”. Through different variations of play, children gain physical (gross/find motor), language (words)/communication (speech and listening), cognitive (thinking, reasoning, remembering), and relationship (social) skills. The more your child plays, the more life-long skills they gain.

If you are wanting some easy and fun ideas or ways to incorporate both movement and play into your family’s life, you can reference the quick tips located below:

• Go on a hike/nature walk
• Relay Race
• Obstacle Course
  • Use couch cushions or other items from inside your home
  • Use chalk to make an obstacle course outside
• Pillow Case hoppers
  • Sack relay race
• Tag
• Animal Races
  • “Hop like a bunny”
  • “Squat and waddle like a duck”
• Balloon Ball
• Freeze Dance
• Clean-up Race
  • Set a timer to see who can clean up the room the fastest
• Kickball
• Play sports
• Ride bikes
• Jump rope

Moving and exercising don’t have to be hard work. It can be fun for both you and your kid(s), and it can create lasting memories!