List of Appropriate Sports Activities for Preschoolers: Avoid Becoming an Overzealous Sports Parent
Physical education in childhood plays a crucial role in a child’s all-around development. The foundations for health and physical growth are formed early in life, and essential motor skills are developed. Children find great joy in physical exercise and love outdoor games.Sports games are extremely important in achieving both educational and developmental goals. They help improve coordination, precision in movement, spatial awareness, and visual evaluation. During games, children learn to make decisions quickly, enhancing their thinking skills and reaction speed to visual and auditory cues. They also develop valuable personal qualities like perseverance, honesty, discipline, responsibility to the team, and empathy by following game rules.
Children learn to resolve conflicts and disputes independently. Considering young children's physiological traits, it is best to focus on basic sports exercises for younger preschoolers and gradually introduce older preschoolers to elements of sports games. These games allow children to release energy, experience positive emotions, and strengthen their bodies. With such a wide variety of games available, every child can find an activity they enjoy.
This kind of active fun is a great way to nurture a lifelong love for sports in your child and, most importantly, promote their health. Below, we offer sports games and exercises suitable for preschoolers.
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How to Introduce Your Child to Sports
First, create a small sports area at home with climbing frames, rings, a trapeze, and a rope. Once your child becomes familiar with these, start with simple tasks such as hanging from the rings for three minutes (like a koala), climbing the ladder (like a squirrel), or swinging from a rope (like a monkey on vines). When friends visit, hold a fun competition with real prizes—like candies or homemade medals (cookies). Always keep safety in mind—a protective mat should be placed under all sports equipment during activities.
Sports Games with Equipment
Children of all ages enjoy ball games. All you need is a ball and your child’s willingness to play. Ball games are suitable for both large and small groups. Equipment like ladders, horizontal bars, slides, and swings can also make sports more interesting for your child. These activities are excellent entertainment for families and help strengthen parent-child bonds.
For younger preschoolers, the joy comes more from the actions than from the outcome of the game, and this joy increases with added excitement. The following games are designed for play between an adult and one or more children at a time.
- "Jump to the Palm." Hold your palm above the child’s head. Let each child jump and try to touch your hand with their head. Repeat 8–10 times.
- "Jump Like a Ball." Hold a large ball and bounce it on the floor. The child must jump in rhythm with the ball, keeping the pace for 1–1.5 minutes.
- "Jump Over the Stream." Draw two lines on the floor, 20–30 cm apart—that’s the “stream.” The child jumps over it. Gradually increase the width to 35–40 cm. Play for 40 seconds to 1 minute.
The competitive spirit excites both children and adults. Relay-style sports games are a great way to organize fun and engaging breaks. Relays are especially ideal for large groups of children.
You can hold a relay with balls, cycling races, or in winter, sled or ski competitions. Tug-of-war is another favorite that children enjoy.
Some fun relays include:
- Sack race
- Slip through the hoop
- Relay race
- Throw into the basket
Games you can organize at home include:
- "Throw the Ball in the Basket." Place a basket (about 30 cm in diameter) on the floor. The child must throw a small ball (10–12 cm) into the basket from 1 meter away. Repeat 8–10 times.
- "Make a Figure." The child runs around, doing movements like raising arms, crouching, or standing on one leg. When you give the command, they freeze in their current position. Play for 1–1.5 minutes.
- "Fishing Pole." Tie a sandbag to a cord and rotate it just above the floor. The child jumps to avoid having it touch their legs. Play for 40 seconds to 1 minute.
- "Find the Object." Place small items on a table and cover them with a cloth. Name an item, and the child must find it by touch under the cloth. Repeat 4–6 times.
For example, children may need to run to a specific line, avoid entering someone else’s “house,” or run only to a marked area. Children this age can jump over small obstacles, crawl under ropes, or run in pairs. Multiple children or one adult and a child can play these games together:
- "Wrap Faster." Each player holds a stick, with a cord stretched between them. On command, both wrap the cord around their stick as fast as they can. Repeat 3–4 times.
- "Step Over." Draw several circles on the floor (15–20 cm wide, 10–15 cm apart). The child steps from one circle to another. Play for 40 seconds to 1 minute.
- "Don’t Touch." Place obstacles like blocks or pins on the floor. The child must run between them without touching any. Repeat 4–6 times.
- "Catch a Mosquito." Tie a “mosquito” made of cloth or paper to the end of a stick (1–1.5 meters long). Move the mosquito above the child’s head, and have them jump up to catch it. Play for 30–40 seconds.
How to Encourage a Love for Sports Without Overdoing It
Parents often get so enthusiastic about sports that it can discourage their children, having the opposite effect.
To help children learn sports skills and develop a passion for exercise, keep these tips in mind:
- Introduce sports games step by step, starting with simple activities and gradually moving to more complex ones.
- Repeat and reinforce exercises during walks, taking seasonal and weather conditions into account.
- Ensure your child enjoys the activity and wants to participate. If sport feels like a chore, they’ll quickly lose interest. Success, in sports and in life, is hard if you act reluctantly.
- Don’t scold your child for mistakes. Fear of making mistakes can crush their desire to try. Let them know mistakes are a natural part of learning and improvement.
- Explain to your child that sports are primarily for their health. Lead by example—show your enthusiasm by exercising, running, swimming, or joining sports clubs with them.