physical education activities for preschool

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27 Gross Motor Skills Activities for Little Kids

Indoor gross motor activities.

• Outdoor Gross Motor Activities

Gross Motor Skills Games

• Fine Motor Skills

Little kids can develop their gross motor skills through a variety of fun activities. Active play that uses the large muscles of the legs, arms, and trunk is important for your preschooler's health and physical development. Learning to harness the power of their muscles to run, jump, throw, catch, and kick is vital to the growth of their bodies and brains. Plus, it's a lot of fun.

Types of Gross Motor Skills Activities For Kids

• Indoor : Building, dancing, hopping, arts and crafts, pretend play, pulling, pushing
• Outdoor : Balancing, climbing, reaching, riding, swimming, playground play, walking, throwing, catching
• Games : Hit the target, jump the brook, paper plate skates, soccer, tag
• Fine Motor Skills : Coloring, cooking, cutting, fingerplay, stringing beads, puzzles, pupped shows, sand play, sidewalk chalk

Muscle-moving play doesn't have to take up a ton of room. Given just a little floor space, your child can enjoy these skill-building activities inside.

• Building and navigating : Create obstacle courses with furniture, pillows, boxes, and blankets.
• Dancing : Kids go can freestyle or follow songs with movements, such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes," "I'm a Little Teapot," "The Wheels on the Bus," or "Popcorn."
• Hopping : Set up targets with masking tape or cardboard to make jumping from place to place on the floor more fun.
• Large-scale  arts and crafts activities : These stimulate both large motor skills and creativity.
• Playing pretend : Kids boost motor skills when they use their bodies to become waddling ducks, stiff-legged robots, galloping horses, soaring planes, or whatever they can imagine.
• Pulling and pushing : Playing with wagons, large trucks, doll strollers, or shopping carts helps develop upper-body strength and coordination.

Formal Classes for Preschoolers

Dance and movement classes, like pre-ballet or tumbling, can be fun and provide motor-development skills, but they can be expensive. These organized activities are by no means essential to a child's development; it's more important that kids have time and opportunity to move their bodies.

Outdoor Gross Motor Activities

Kids have plenty of room outside to play hard and challenge their muscles. Help them by suggesting activities such as:

• Balancing : Have your child walk on a low beam or plank at the playground or a homemade balance beam.
• Climbing, stretching, and reaching : Set up obstacle courses with rocks, logs, or playground equipment.
• Riding : Encouage kids to play with tricycles, scooters, and other ride-on toys .
• Swimming : Most kids love water play of all kinds, from swimming to playing with water squirters or sprinklers.
• Playground play : Playgrounds offer opportunities to pump their legs on a swing , shoot down a slide , climb ladders, and run freely, often with friends.
• Walking : Take a walk around the neighborhood or a park. For variety, add in marching, jogging, skipping, hopping, or even musical instruments to form a parade. As you walk, tell stories, look for colors, count, or play games.
• Throwing and catching : Provide large, lightweight, soft balls for throwing, catching, kicking, and rolling.

Some activities for developing gross motor skills work best outside, but others can be done indoors. Motivate major movement with games such as:

• Hit the target : Use hula hoops or sidewalk chalk to designate targets on the ground, then have kids aim bean bags or balls (even snowballs). 
• Jump the brook : Set out two jump ropes , or draw two chalk lines to represent the brook, and have kids try to jump over it. Try making it wider in some spots and narrower in others for a few levels of challenge.
• Paper plate skates : Use paper plates to glide along on a carpet. Try to imitate speed skaters, hockey players, or figure skaters.
• Soccer : Instead of playing a real game, just let kids enjoy kicking the ball and aiming it toward a goal or a large cardboard box or laundry basket turned on its side. For indoor play, you can use crumpled paper instead of balls.
• Tag : Teach little ones simple ways to play tag or other classic games such as Follow the Leader, Mother May I, and Simon Says.

Avoid or modify games that force kids to sit still or to be eliminated from play, such as Duck Duck Goose or Musical Chairs.

Fine Motor Skills for Preschoolers

Kids this age are also working on  fine motor skills , which are crucial to their ability to perform tasks like holding a pencil, cut with scissors, use silverware to eat, and more. These activities can help children strengthen and learn to use the small muscles in their fingers and hands.

• Coloring and tracing with crayons, pencils, or markers
• Cooking (pouring, shaking, sprinkling, kneading, tearing, cutting with a butter knife)
• Cutting with safety scissors
• Fingerplays (songs such as "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" that have accompanying hand movements)
• Lacing cards or stringing beads
• Manipulative toys such as blocks, puzzles, or dolls with clothes to take on and off
• Puppet shows
• Sand play (pouring, scooping, sifting, building)
• Sidewalk chalk or any art project, like finger painting or playing with clay

A Word From Verywell

Your preschooler needs plenty of time to play and explore different activities that will help them develop their motor skills. Look for activities that will help them build strength in all their muscles, big and small.

Iacobucci G. Children should have at least three hours of daily physical activity from age 1, WHO advises . BMJ . 2019;365:I1884. doi:10.1136/bmj.l1884 

Figueroa R, An R. Motor skill competence and physical activity in preschoolers: A review .  Matern Child Health J . 2017;21(1):136–146. doi:10.1007/s10995-016-2102-1

McGlashan HL, Blanchard CCV, Sycamore NJ, Lee R, French B, Holmes NP. Improvement in children's fine motor skills following a computerized typing intervention .  Hum Mov Sci . 2017;56(Pt B):29–36. doi:10.1016/j.humov.2017.10.013

Hafner ML.  The Joy of Movement . Redleaf Press; 2019.

Ludlow R.  The Little Book Of Gross Motor Skills . A&C Black; 2012.

By Catherine Holecko Catherine Holecko is an experienced freelance writer and editor who specializes in pregnancy, parenting, health and fitness. 

ChatGPT for Teachers

Trauma-informed practices in schools, teacher well-being, cultivating diversity, equity, & inclusion, integrating technology in the classroom, social-emotional development, covid-19 resources, invest in resilience: summer toolkit, civics & resilience, all toolkits, degree programs, trauma-informed professional development, teacher licensure & certification, how to become - career information, classroom management, instructional design, lifestyle & self-care, online higher ed teaching, current events, 4 preschool fitness lesson plan examples.

Fitness lesson plans during preschool help young kids get off to a strong start in their awareness of physical health. Ideally, some sort of fitness plan should be a part of every early childhood education curriculum. Teachers are able to introduce students to the many benefits of regular exercise, cultivating healthy habits early on.

Some teachers run into creative issues with bringing physical fitness to the preschool classroom. Combining fitness with subjects such as reading, music, art and other educational activities can be a fun and creative way to teach fitness. Teachers should consider the following ideas when implementing fitness into their current curriculum:

1. A fitness reading circle

The reading circle is a great place to introduce lessons about physical fitness. It’s a natural place to read books related to fitness and exercise, and a number of great titles are available to choose from. Some suggested reading for a fitness reading circle would be:

• “The Monster Health Book: A Guide to Eating Healthy, Being Active & Feeling Great for Monsters & Kids!” by Edward Miller
• “The Busy Body Book: A Kid’s Guide to Fitness” by Lizzy Rockwell
• “Spriggles Motivational Books For Children: Activity & Exercise” by Jeff and Martha Gottlieb
•  “Being Active” by Mari C. Schuh

These books are age-appropriate and talk about the benefits of regular exercise on a level pre-schoolers will understand.

Another method of instruction is to bring in books with photographs directly related to health and fitness, and pass them around the class. Have the children discuss the images, what people are doing in them and how exercise can benefit everyone. Have each child talk about their favorite fitness activity. Ask them to explain what it is they like about it and how often they do it.

2. Playing restaurant

Another creative way to get students talking about health and fitness is by having them play restaurant. This can go a long way in teaching them how to make healthy food choices, whether they’re at home or out to eat. To do this, start by creating a mock menu offering a variety of food choices, from healthy to unhealthy. This is probably all that’s needed if your space and time is limited, but you can also set up a counter, a kitchen, pretend food and a dining room if you wish. Have the children take turns playing customer, cashier, cook and waiter. Help the kids to understand how to make healthy choices, even when out at a restaurant.

3. Physical education put to music

Music can be a great part of preschool fitness lesson plans, in part because it is so easy to get kids to start moving when music is playing. Most kids love music, and it’s a great way to get them to practice some of the exercise ideas you may have discussed during the reading circle. There are a number of great audio CDs to choose from that preschoolers will love. These CDs feature songs and dance-alongs that encourage fitness in children and teach them how to exercise. Here are some audio CDs that could be a great fit for your class:

• “Physical Ed” by The Learning Station
• “Wiggle Wiggle And Other Exercises” by Bobby Susser
• “Preschool Aerobic Fun” by Kimbo

4. Fitness education art activities

Art activities are another creative area where lessons about fitness can be incorporated. Have students create self-portraits of themselves engaged in their favorite physical exercise. They might also create drawings or collages of themselves playing a sport they may have never tried before, but would like to. The point is to get them thinking about exercise, physical fitness and health and understanding its importance to a balanced life.

Preschoolers who get started early with learning about physical fitness have a far better chance of creating healthy habits that can last a lifetime. Creative and fun preschool fitness lesson plans should be a part of every early childhood education curriculum.

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Categorized as: Tips for Teachers and Classroom Resources

Tagged as: Early Childhood and Elementary (Grades: PreK-5) ,  Physical Education and Health

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Free Lesson Plans

Spark sample lesson plans, the following pages include a collection of free spark physical education and physical activity lesson plans. if you’re searching for lesson plans based on inclusive, fun pe-pa games or innovative new ideas, click on one of the links below..

Snakes and Lizards Lesson Plan

Field Day Activity

Centipede Pass

Manipulatives Lesson

Partner Hoop Rolling

Parachute Switcheroo Lesson Plan

Catching and Throwing

Catching and Throwing Circuit Lesson Plan

Skill Cards

Skill Cards (Spanish)

Back to School

Back to School (Spanish)

Social and Emotional Learning

Kindness Definition Card and Lesson

Fitness Circuits

Body Composition Circuit Lesson Plan

Mirror, Mirror Lesson Plan

Performance Rubric Assessment

Choice Count (Pedometer Activity)

Cross the Pond

3-Catch Basketball Lesson Plan

SEL Definition and T-Chart Card

Flying Disc

Durango Boot

Zone and Player-to-Player Defenses

Radio Control

Mini Soccer

Soccer Student Self-Assessments

Track and Field

Sprints and Jumps Circuit

Skill Cards (English & Spanish)

Task Cards (Spanish)

Cooperatives

Spartan Adventure Race 201

Spartan Adventure Race 101

Group Fitness

Yoga Basic Training Lesson Plan

Yoga Content Cards

Yoga Content Cards (Spanish)

Basic Training Peer Checklist

Basic Training Peer Checklist (Spanish)

SFI Certification Tracking Sheet

iGames Lesson

iStrike/Field

Boulder Runner

I Got Your Back Lesson Plan

Practice Plan

Practice Plan (Spanish)

Fitness Fun

Fun and Fitness Circuit Lesson Plan

Fitness Station Cards

Fitness Station Cards (Spanish)

Fun Station Cards

Fun Station Cards (Spanish)

Great Games

Balanced Breakfast

Flying Disc Group Challenge Lesson Plan

Task Card (Spanish)

Building Blocks

Starting and Stopping Lesson Plan

Family Fun Activities

Family Fun Activities (Spanish)

Beanbag Bonanza

Station Play Lesson Plan

Station Cards

Have a Ball

Bounce and Catch

Recess Activities

Social studies.

Social Studies Fitness Relay

State Lists

State Lists (Spanish)

Fitness Relay State Cards

STEM Fitness Training

STEM Fitness Training Cards (English & Spanish)

Me Activities

ME: INSIDE (K-2)

ME: OUTSIDE (3-5)

We Activities

WE: INSIDE (3-5)

WE: OUTSIDE (K-2)

3 Activities

3: INSIDE (3-5)

3: OUTSIDE (K-2)

Sample Resources

Group Juggling

Object Control Skills-Underhand Throwing

What Your PE Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder Wishes You Knew

Football Unit Inclusion Strategies 3-6

SPARK Holiday Lesson

Hearty Hoopla

Stop the Grinch!

Zombie Graveyard

Build a Turkey

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Preschooler Physical Activity

Based upon evidence, a number of desired bevaiors were identified as critical to helping families foster healthy active living for their preschooler. For each desired behavior you can explore the evidence, learn what parents told us about these behaviors, identify opportunities to promote healthy behaviors at the point of care, review how to start conversations and access messages and resources to support families. Also available to inform your counseling is the Onset and Patters of Risk and Behaviors for Preschoolers Timeline located above this section.

Acti​ve Play

Make time in your routine for active play every day.

Many children less than 5 years of age fail to meet the physical activity CDC guideline of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day. Sedentary activity for young children has been shown to range from 32.8 to 56.3 minutes per hour. Young children are not automatically active. Studies show that 3 to 5 year old children spend over 30% of their time awake in sedentary activities. Some research indicates that 2 to 5 year olds should engage in 2 or more hours per day of physical activity. Play spent outdoors in this age group seems to yield more active play than when play occurs indoors.

Parents believed that their children are getting physical activity at school or childcare. At the same time, parents saw value in focusing time on physical activity, and wanted ideas and strategies for developmentally appropriate activity.

A knowledge gap exists about the need for preschoolers to be active. Educate parents that preschoolers need both structured and non-structured opportunities for physical activity. Emphasize the important window to develop large motor skills and foster coordination. Share developmentally appropriate strategies for active play time. It is also important to remember that body awareness and large and fine motor skills are important aspects of school readiness. Fostering these skills through active play is a great way to hone these skills.

What kind of activities does your preschooler enjoy? Did you know that preschoolers need to be active for at least an hour a day?  Do you have any ideas how you might get this amount of activity into your routine? Can you tell me about outdoor play spaces that are safe for your preschooler? Can you tell me about the kinds of physical activity your child gets at school? When your preschooler is with friends, what kind of activity do they like to do?

HALF Message: Activities like running, dancing, and climbing are an important part of your growing child’s development. Good exercise habits start early in life, so make active time fun every day!

HALF Resources: For realistic parent derived strategies for making activity a part of the daily routine, refer parents to the following sections on  healthychildren.org/growinghealthy

• Quick Tips: Keep Your Child Healthy widget. Simply select Physical Activity to generate the results.
• Physical Activity Preschoolers​

Also take advantage of the  HealthyGrowth app  to create personalized patient education for your patient.

Sc​​reen T​​​ime

• Limit TV exposure to less than 2 hours/day
• Avoid commercials and advertisements
• No TVs in children's bedrooms
• Avoid snacking while watching TV

In children aged 2-5, exposure to more than 2 hours per day of television/videos significantly increases the risk for obesity. Televisions in children’s bedrooms increase the impact of television on weight status. For each 1 hour increase in TV viewing, 3-year olds had increased intake of sugar sweetened beverages, fast food and red and processed meat. Their total energy intake and percent of energy from trans fat also increased. Increased TV time was also associated with lower fruit and vegetable, calcium, and fiber intake. Most children under age 6 cannot distinguish between programming and advertising. Television food advertising increases children’s preferences for the foods advertised and their requests to parents for those food. Children eat more when they see food advertising than when they see other types of commercials. 44% of 2-to 4-year-olds have TVs in their bedroom. 73% of 2- to 4-year-olds watch TV every day. Children age 5-8 spend an average of 3 hours a day watching television.

TV was viewed as educational, and almost like preschool at home. Screen time was also viewed as down time or break time (a way to keep the child still and get things done). Any messages to avoid TV and other educational games via smart phones, tablets, computers, etc., need to be realistic.

It is important to ascertain current family values around TV and offer alternatives to TV time. Remind them that one of the best ways for children to learn is through play and human interaction. For this age group, help parents identify ways to limit:

• the amount of TV watched,
• exposure to advertisements,
• set limits around gaming (on screen)
• eating while watching TV

Caution against:

• placing a TV in their child’s bedroom
• replacing TV time with screen time (smart phones/tablets/computer)
•  “educational gaming “ and “educational TV”

Offer strategies to limit TV viewing and gaming on any screen – (TV, tablet, computer, or console) early on, so that the child grows up with a set of expectations/rules around TV and gaming.

Can you tell me about your preschooler and TV watching and computers? Tell me about the kind of TV your preschooler watches? Can you tell me who decides what shows your preschooler watches? Does your child enjoy computer time or play on your phone or tablet? Did you know that commercials are a link between TV watching, weight gain, and unhealthy eating habits? Would you like to talk about ways to reduce exposure to commercials? Where does your child eat snacks when they are at home?

HALF Message(s): It was hard enough when parents had to make decisions about TV time. Parents today are faced with “screen time” — TV, computers, smart phones, video games, and iPads!

If screen time has gotten a bit out of control in your home, you are not alone. We understand that managing it can be a struggle. Keep in mind that even if you can’t cut out screen time completely, cutting back will help.

HALF Resources: For realistic parent derived strategies for managing screen time, refer parents to the following sections on  healthychildren.org/growinghealthy :

• Quick Tips: Keep Your Child Healthy widget. Simply select Screen Time to generate the results.
• Physical Activity for Preschoolers ​

Also take advantage of the  HealthyGrowth app ​​ to create personalized patient education for your patient.

Last Updated

American Academy of Pediatrics

Fitness and Physical Activities for Preschoolers

Help preschoolers reach fitness milestones with these physical activities.

• brightwheel
• Child development

Preschoolers should be physically active throughout the day for holistic growth and development. Therefore, starting early is essential to helping them build a strong foundation for an active lifestyle. Physical activities lower the risk of developing diseases like childhood obesity, improve cardiovascular fitness and weight management, and help with depression and anxiety management. 

Children are naturally active. There are plenty of age-appropriate activities, such as hide-and-seek, dancing, or musical chairs, that are simple to incorporate into a preschool classroom.

While offering structured playtime is essential, it is also beneficial to allow time for unstructured physical play to keep your children active. Here is a complete guide on the benefits of physical activities for preschoolers and indoor and outdoor activities to consider at your center.

Why is physical activity important for child development?

Regular physical activity keeps children active, builds strong bones and muscles, and reduces the risk of life-threatening diseases later in life, such as heart disease and obesity. Below we go into more detail on the benefits of physical activity.

Promotes physical health

Physical activity is integral to children’s physical growth and development. Exercise stimulates the secretion of growth hormones in the brain, which are responsible for children’s height, muscle growth, and bone length. 

Regular physical activity also improves children’s fitness levels by strengthening their muscles, boosting endurance, and improving flexibility. Children can reach key physical development milestones like being able to throw and catch a ball or hop on one foot.

Develops motor skills

Motor skills involve muscle movement and coordination. Fine and gross motor skills are the two types of motor skills children should develop from an early age. Children require motor skills to perform tasks like writing, eating, and dressing. Physical activity improves children’s motor skills by boosting skeletal muscle strength and endurance.

Maintains a healthy weight

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity is common among children affecting at least 12.7% of preschoolers. The right amount of physical activity is crucial for weight management as the body burns fat and calories, converting them to energy for various activities. This significantly aids weight management and prevents childhood obesity and other lifestyle diseases.

Improves cardiovascular health

The cardiovascular system comprises the heart and blood vessels like arteries, veins, and capillaries. Poor cardiovascular health can lead to cardiovascular diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary heart disease, heart valve problems, and heart failure. 

The good news is that you can protect children from developing cardiovascular diseases through physical activity. A key benefit of physical activity is that it enhances the muscles' ability to get oxygen from the blood, so the heart doesn't overwork to pump blood to the muscles. Exercising also reduces stress hormones, which burden the heart more.

Aids cognitive development

In addition to keeping your heart, bones, and muscles healthy, physical activity also boosts brain growth and aids cognitive development . This means that physical activity can help with things like memory function and how you think, learn, and problem-solve.

Improves mental health

Physical activity is good for children’s mental health . Being active can help improve your mood, concentration, and attention, and is associated with less anxiety and depression.

Fosters social-emotional skills

Physical activities, like playing sports, can boost a child’s self-esteem and encourage social-emotional skills development. Team sports can teach children how to cooperate and interact with others towards a common goal and foster a sense of accomplishment.

CDC exercise recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends different levels of physical activity depending on a child’s age. In general, children ages 3-5 should be physically active throughout the day for their growth and development. Therefore, teachers and families are advised to promote regular physical activities for children in this age group. Below are more exercise recommendation guidelines for children.

Infants: 0-1 year 

Babies need at least 30+ minutes of interactive play, including tummy time, throughout the day. Tummy time , when a baby spends time awake on their stomach, is one of a baby’s first exercises and can begin as a newborn. This is vital to strengthening the neck, back, and head muscles and promotes visual, motor, and sensory development. 

Toddlers: 1-2 years

Toddlers should be physically active throughout the day for at least three hours . Physical activity for this age group can include neighborhood walks or free play outside. 

Preschoolers: 3-5 years

Preschoolers also need to be physically active throughout the day for at least three hours including one hour of moderate to vigorous activity. Things like jumping, running, walking, swimming, skipping, cycling, ball games, and dancing are excellent indoor and outdoor physical activities for preschoolers.

Indoor physical activities for 3-5 year-olds

There are plenty of indoor physical activities for preschoolers. Here are some you can consider at your center.

Musical chairs

This classic children’s game is easy to play and will get your children moving. Arrange chairs in two rows back to back, with one chair less than the number of players. Turn some music on and have the children walk around the chairs. When the music stops, each child will race to sit on a chair. The child left without a chair will be out of the game. Remove one chair after every round until you are left with one chair and two participants. The last child to sit on the remaining chair wins. You can also play a non-competitive version of this game by having enough chairs for all children.

Dance extravaganza

Dancing is one of the best indoor physical activities for preschoolers. You only need to create room for dancing and have music on your phone, computer, or radio. Play a familiar danceable tune or song that children like and invite children to the dance floor. You can also use music and movement activities to promote physical activity.

Balloon volleyball

This activity follows the same concept as volleyball, but uses balloons instead of a real ball. Put up a piece of string or yarn across the room at approximately head height. Divide the children into two groups and help them hit the balloons over the string to the other team without it touching the ground.

Hula hooping

Hula hooping is an excellent way to promote physical activity and the only piece of equipment needed is a hula hoop. Instruct children to step into the hula hoop, bring it up to their waist level, and ask them to move their waist in a circular motion to keep it spinning and balanced. You can also have your children try spinning the hoops on their arms or simply roll the hoops back and forth to one another.

Follow the leader

This is a great activity that will teach children the importance of following rules and taking turns. The movement in this game will also help develop gross motor skills. Identify a leader and ask the rest of the children to follow the leader and perform the same movement all at the same time. Take turns switching who gets to be the leader.

Don’t let the balloon drop

The goal of this game is to keep the balloon in the air and not let it touch the ground. Give each child a balloon and have them toss and hit it upwards to try to keep it in the air. Whoever drops their balloon should sit down. The last child standing with their balloon in the air is the winner. You can also provide one balloon and make it a group activity by asking children to hit it in the air so it doesn’t touch the ground.

Outdoor physical activities for 3-5 year-olds

When the weather permits, there are endless possibilities for outdoor physical activities . Below are some you can consider:

Kick the ball

Learning to kick a ball builds children’s eye-and-foot coordination and increases their focus and attention as they kick the ball into the goal. For this activity, you’ll need a soccer ball and a goal. You can make a makeshift goal using a big empty box or laundry basket. Allow the children to kick the ball back and forth, and the aim should be to kick the ball into the goal.

Playing the sack race is a great aerobic exercise that will strengthen children’s gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Give each participant a sack that fits their size and help them to put their feet inside. The rule is that at least one hand should be holding the sack at any time. Let them hop to the finish line, and the child that gets there first wins.

Hide-and-seek

Hide-and-seek fosters problem-solving skills and self-control (by learning to remain quiet while hiding), among other benefits. Children love this game, and the best part is that you don’t need special equipment or materials for this physical activity. Choose one child to be the “seeker”. Have them close their eyes and count to 10 while the other children hide. Once the seeker has finished counting, they can start looking for the other players until all are found.

Tag is a classic chasing game that will keep your children moving. Select one child to be “it”. They must try to tag someone else who then becomes “it”. You can also play freeze tag—once tagged, children must freeze in place until another teammate unfreezes them.

Egg on a spoon race

For this activity, children have to balance an egg on a spoon as they walk to the finish line. If you don’t want to use real eggs, you can also use grapes, small bouncy balls, or fake plastic eggs. Give each child an egg and a spoon and instruct them to balance the egg on the spoon as they walk to the finish line. Whoever gets there first without dropping the egg is the winner.

Hopscotch is a great activity that combines balance and coordination skills, number recognition, and taking turns. Draw a hopscotch grid on the sidewalk using chalk and write numbers from one to nine. Give the first child a small rock or beanbag to use as a marker and toss it on square one. Have them jump over square one and continue hoping until the last square (square nine), then turn back. Next, toss the marker on square two and repeat the same process with the next child.

Physical activity for preschoolers FAQ 

What are the three components of physical activity for children.

The three components of physical activity for children are endurance, strength, and flexibility. Children develop endurance through aerobic activities like running and cycling. They can improve their strength through activities like climbing the monkey bars at the playground. Lastly, they can achieve flexibility by doing stretching exercises like bending down to touch their toes.

What sports can a three-year-old do?

Three-year-olds can participate in sports such as soccer, swimming, gymnastics, karate, and dance. However, active playing throughout the day exposes young children to enough exercise. Typically older children around six or seven years old have the physical skills, attention span, and ability to follow rules needed for organized sports.

How much physical activity does a three-year-old need?

Children should be physically active for the better part of the day since it benefits their holistic development. Preschoolers (ages 3-5) should participate in outdoor and indoor physical activities for at least three hours each day. Active play like running, hopping, jumping, and playing chase games are great ways to keep this age group moving.

Why is physical activity important for preschoolers?

Physical activity improves preschoolers' physical well-being by strengthening body organs like the lungs, heart, muscles, and bones. It also improves their flexibility, coordination, and posture. Lastly, physical activity helps with weight management and promotes an active lifestyle that prevents diseases such as childhood obesity.

Keep children active with physical activities 

Preschoolers need plenty of physical activity throughout the day for their growth and development. Physical activity helps support overall fitness, motor skills development, and cognitive development. As an educator it’s important to promote an active lifestyle by incorporating plenty of opportunities for children to get up and move throughout each day.

Activities Across Developmental Domains

Developmentally-appropriate activity ideas for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

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28 Best PE Games With Absolutely No Equipment

P.E. lessons can be a bit daunting at times. All that equipment to organize and worry about. Yuck!

Then there are the safety aspects to consider. Eek!

The good news is, there are plenty of simple P.E. games that you can use with no equipment!

The Ultimate List of PE Games With No Equipment

Whether you need ideas for Kindergarten PE games, or PE games for preschool this list will spark the creativity you need for gym class or at home!

I’ve been teaching in early education for the best part of 20 years now, and in that time I’ve come up with a full armory of the very best PE games WITH NO EQUIPMENT! Woop!

Table of Contents

That’s right! Just a group of children are enough to create many games and have plenty of fun.

All you need are a good space and plenty of energy, so let’s go!

1. Stop And Go Bubbles

Practice drawing a great big pretend bubble with your finger in the air.

Reach up as high as you can and reach down as low as you can. Really reach all the way around you.

If you can reach and touch anyone else with our moving your feet you are too close to move away and make sure you are in your own space.

Stretch out in your bubble to make sure you can’t touch anyone else’s just in case you should burst their bubble.

Ask the children to move like a bubble and float around the space. How freeing and mindful this bit is!

When you tell them to stop, make sure their bubble is in a good space so that no one can burst it.

2.Extra Sensory Perception (ESP)

This is a brilliant pairs game, that is good as a warm-up or as a fun game on it’s own!.

What you do is invent three movements and demonstrate them to the group.

Once you’ve played it a couple of times, the kids can come up with their own ideas.

Three examples of moves could be:

• Doing star jumps
• Doing Jazz hands
• Jumping a 360 spin on the spot

Then everyone gets a partner.

The true challenge now is to activate your ESP, which (as pretty much all kids seem to know), is your Extra-Sensory Perception. Simply put, this is the ability to read your partner’s mind (which is very exciting).

Everyone displays one of the three moves at the same time. You want to do the move that you think your partner will do.

Do the same move? Woo woo! You activated your ESP.

Different move? Just try again.

Keep going for a few goes, before changing partners to see if your ESP works better or worse on other people.

As well as being a great PE activity, I often use this as a circle time game in class. This is one of the favorite games from my book 101 Circle Time Games…That Actually Work!

This book contains all the very best mindfulness circle games, active circle games, math games, literacy circle games, and so much more! You can check out the book here.

3. Foxes And Hares

Once the children have got a good understanding of space, and they can stop and start on your command, there are lots of fun PE games you can introduce.

Foxes and hares is a classic chase game .

Aim of the game: To catch all the hares of course!

About a fifth of the children should be foxes. So if you are playing with 10 children, 2 children can be foxes. 

The hares move around the space by hopping. To hop, they should move both feet together and then put two hands together on the floor, just like a rabbit or a hare moves in bunny hops.

The foxes also move on four legs (hands and feet) but they should be quicker as they are less restricted.

To catch a hare, simply touch them (gently, please! No fox attacks).

When all the Hares are caught by the foxes, the game is over and you start a new game with a new group of foxes.

4. Trains and Tunnels

This is a similar version to the game above. There are always loads of train enthusiasts among pretty much any age of children, so this game is always a winner.

Choose a few children to be the trains. 

Explain that the rest of the children are tunnels. They should make a tunnel by putting both their hands and feet on the floor and arching their back as high as they can to make a high tunnel with their body. 

The trains should run around the space until you shout Whoo Whoo.

At the sound of the train whistle, they should crawl through as many of the tunnels as they can. 

When a train has been through a tunnel, the tunnel is released and becomes a train. 

Keep playing until all the tunnels are trains. 

This is a fun game for pairs.

One child is the leader, the other is their shadow.

Explain how your shadow does exactly what you do. It follows you everywhere, and your movements are identical.

As the leaders move around the space, the shadow follows and copies exactly what they do.

Encourage the children to use different levels of movement.

• Roll on the floor
• Move on your hands and knees
• Move on one or two feet

Encourage them to use different speeds of movement

• Move slowly and gracefully
• Move quickly and craftily

Encourage them to use different balances

• Balance on one foot
• Balance on all fours
• Balance on two feet and one hand

Remember to swap over so that both children have a chance to be the leader. 

6. Good Toes Naughty Toes

This is another simple listening game requiring no equipment and it can be played as an indoor and outdoor game.

There are two instructions that the children are going to listen out for. Those are:

Good toes – They should stand completely still with their feet together

Naughty toes – They should dance around wildly using the space and not bumping into anyone else. (Music can be used if you want to)

This game is all about freedom and expression!

7. Noisy Running!

This is possibly my all-time favorite mindful PE game.

This is best done outside in a large space.

The idea is that the children are going to move and make noises at the same time. The volume of the sound they make will be directly linked to how fast they move.

Start by all humming very faintly, and walking really slowly.

Then try a fast walk, and raise the volume of the sound coming out of everyone’s mouth.

Then try light jogging, with a medium noise – aaaaahh – coming from everyone’s mouth, about the volume of talking.

Keep getting faster and increasing the volume! When you are running at full pelt, you will also be yelling as loud as possible – AHHHHH!

I like to do this activity in a structured way to introduce it and mix up the speeds/volumes for a while.

But then, for a couple of minutes, let the children ‘freestyle’. They choose their speeds and volumes and race around.

This activity is all about mindfulness , and experiencing a sense of freedom and liberation from inhibitions!

8. Floating!

Another mindful PE activity here.

Get the children to stand in a space and close their eyes. Then you are going to help them to visualize that they are transforming into something that floats or flies!

It could be:

Let’s imagine we start with the balloon.

Tell the children to visualize they are slowly changing into a balloon. Their skin is becoming colored rubber. And now someone is blowing them up, and they are getting lighter and lighter, and larger and larger.

Then, tell them they are fully inflated.

The children open their eyes, and now they are going to imagine they are floating like balloons around the space!

Off they go – billowing and wafting in the breeze.

After a couple of minutes, you can try transforming into feathers or eagles.

9.  Be The Teacher

This is a good way for children to start to think about the quality of their movements in PE class.

Work in pairs again. One child should be the teacher. 

Explain that as the teacher, they have to help their pupil make the best quality moves and shapes that they possibly can.

It depends on what kind of moves you are working on, but I like to do this with gym moves.

Try moves like:

• Forward roll
• 360 jump rotation

Ask one child to demonstrate the move, and the other child should help them to make it perfect.

Encourage the children to be kind and helpful. For example, they might say things like:

Tuck your head in a bit more.

Can you straighten your legs even more?

Can you reach up taller?

Ask them to use lots of praise if they spot some good quality movements and make sure they tell their partner what they are doing well.

Don’t forget to swap so that everyone has a go at being the teacher.

10. Make A Shape

Put the children in groups of 4 or 5 and give them the challenge of working as a team to make a shape.

Explain that they can work on the floor, lying down or standing up, as long as the shape is clear.

Begin with the basic shapes of:

circle, triangle, square rectangle

Build up to more difficult shapes like:

stars, hexagons, ovals, rhombus, or octagon

11. Body Letters And Numbers

You can extend this from shapes to letters of the alphabet or numbers.

Simply ask the children to make a letter by working together to get into the shape. This is a good activity for team building as they will have to work together and everybody is needed. 

12. Dance Like No-One’s Watching

Dancing is good for you for so many reasons. It’s a workout for the whole body, it encourages you to keep a beat and keep in time with music, and most of all, it’s fun.

It’s good for the soul, so put some happy upbeat music on and encourage some free dancing.

Clap your hands, wiggle your hips, wave your arms. Have fun!!

13.  Heart Monitors

It’s important for children to know that exercising makes changes to our bodies so that they aren’t frightened by the changes and they understand what is happening to them. 

This is a nice activity to explain those changes so that the children understand that it is perfectly normal.

Count down one minute of any kind of high-intensity exercise, for example:

• Fast running on the spot with high knees 
• Tuck jumps with both feet together
• Pretending to skip on the spot as fast as you can
• Burpees (lay down then jump up)

Really encourage the children to put lots of effort in here.

When the minute is up, encourage the children to put their hands on their hearts and feel it beating.

If they’ve put enough effort in, it should be pounding. Ask them to feel their forehead – it should be at least warm, if not hot and sweaty. 

Notice how fast their breathing is when they stop. They should be out of puff.

With older children, you could ask them to take their own pulse before and after exercising and see how much their pulse rate has increased. 

14. Eight Dance!

This is a great dancing game for kids of all ages.

Put some pumping music on to get everyone going!

Then pick some kind of action or dance move, and everyone does it eight times to the music while also counting at the same time – ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8!’

So, you might do eight star-jumps while counting. Or eight big marches on the spot.

Then shout out a new action, and start that, keeping the counting going throughout.

Some other good dances/actions could be:

• Arms up arms down
• Punch the air with one arm, then the other
• Arms wide, arms across your body
• Walking in place

For the older ones, the emphasis is on the movement. But for younger kids, this is also a great rote counting activity.

15. Animal Copy Cat

One child will be the leader in this game. This is the ‘cat’ that the others will try to copy.

The leader is going to pretend to move like an animal. Everyone else will copy!

For example, they might move like a monkey. They will stoop low, and swing their arms like a monkey. Everyone copies!

After a while, the leader will change the animal. They might pretend to be an elephant!

The trick is for everyone to watch for the transition and try to copy.

The leader can mix things up as quickly or slowly as they like.

16. Animal Freeze!

This is a variation of the animal copycat game above with a bit of music added.

Once again, have a leader that is going to pretend to be different animals that the others copy.

Put on some music, and the kids move around like the animal that the leader is demonstrating.

The adult will pause the music at any given moment. The children must then freeze in their best animal pose! It’s a bit like musical statues at this point. Anyone that moves could be out! (Or you can just play the non-competitive version where everyone gets to carry on each time).

17. Transformers

Wow – transformers are one of the most exciting things on the planet for many kids.

And this game really taps into this enthusiasm.

The kids are all now shape-shifting transformers. They can transform in the blink of an eye into many different types of vehicles, and move around the space like them.

Some good vehicles to try include:

• Train – with ‘chugging’ arms and lots of tooting!
• Helicopter – arms as rotas spinning over your head
• Racing cars – running around as fast as possible!
• Plane – Lots of swooping and soaring
• Monster trucks – Be as big and wide as you can

18. Mr Men/Little Miss Game

The idea of this is that the kids pretend to be some of the characters out of the Mr. Men and Little Miss books.

Some good ones to try include:

Mr. Grumpy – stamp around the room with your angriest face

Mr. Tall – Stretch up and walk as tall as you can

Mr. Bump – Go round bumping into walls and imaginary objects (though not other people)

Little Miss Tiny – Curl up like a tiny weeny ball

Lots of modeling of movements work well for this game – both from the adult and skillful children.

19. Child-Friendly Yoga

I find yoga is most effective with children when they can readily understand that the pose they are doing is mimicking something.

Some great poses that mimic things that children know are:

Household Yoga

In this, the kids mimic everyday actions in the house. It could be sweeping the floor, or washing the pots.

Lie on your front, with your hands flat on the floor next to your face.

Push upwards until your arms are straight, your chest is off the floor, and your back is arched.

This stretches the back and abdomen.

Giraffe Pose

Stand with one foot in front of the other.

Reach up high with both hands (this being the giraffe’s neck.) Then slowly bend down, and touch your leading foot with both hands.

Then slowly return to the original position.

Turtle Pose

Lie on your back. Pull your knees into your chest so that you form a ball shape. Slowly rock backward and forwards.

Your curved back forms the turtle’s ‘shell’.

20. Bean Game

This is one of those all-time classics that I thought I should include on this list.

The children pretend to be types of beans, each of which has its own separate movement.

Model two or three bean movements to start off with, have a practice, and then all play the game. Add more bean movements when the children get more confident.

The adult simply calls out a bean name, and the children move in that way.

The beans and associate movements are:

Sprouting bean  – Walk around on your tip-toes, with your arms stretched as high above you as possible

Baked bean  – Sit down on the floor

Broad bean  – Try to be as wide as possible! Walk around like this

Beans on toast  – Lie down on the floor

Chilli bean  – Shiver! This is a ‘pun’ on the word ‘chilli/chilly’ (obviously!)

Jelly bean  – Wibble and wobble!

Runner bean  – Run around like crazy

French bean  – Say, ‘Bonjour!

When you’ve played a few times, a child could potentially become the leader of this game.

21. Action Stories

This is a really good way of combining storytelling, listening, and action!

The adult makes up a story, and the children act it out.

After you’ve done it a few times, a confident child might well be able to lead this.

You want to have lots of active characters in the story, such as stamping giants, witches on broomsticks, unicorns galloping, and all that kind of thing.

As well as that, it’s good to have lots of action, such as terrible storms blowing, landslides, sinking sand, and all the rest of it.

The kids act all of these things out.

A sample start of a story might go:

‘One day the giant went stamping off through the forest. A terrible wind began to blow. The trees were swaying from side to side. Suddenly a unicorn came galloping into the forest to save the giant…’

I’m sure you get the picture!

22. Traffic Lights

Here’s another absolute classic of the repertoire!

In this, the children will pretend to be cars, and the adult gives different verbal instructions that the cars respond to.

The easiest way to play the game is to have three simple instructions that correspond to the colors of a traffic light:

Green  – Go! Jog around the space

Red  – Stop still

Yellow  – Walk on the spot, ready to go

Start easy, but you can always add more elements to the game when they are ready. Some other verbal cues include:

Honk the horn  – A noisy one, this! Go round tooting!

Roundabout  – Jog around in a narrow circle

Parking Lot (or car-park)  – Lie down on the floor

Freeway  – Run as fast as you can

23. Fox and Chickens

This is a variation of a basic tag game .

The idea is to mix up the game by incorporating a theme that the children are interested in.

So, you could have a fox catching chicken by tagging them. Or one of the following:

• A shark catching fishes
• A bird catching worms
• Or a witch catching children

Anything you think the children will respond to is fine.

24. HIIT Session

Here is a simple idea, that is great for fitness for all ages.

You have a structured sequence of activities that you perform together. Spend about thirty seconds on each movement, with a fifteen-second break.

Some simple moves include:

• Reach up, reach down
• Jumping like a frog
• Jumping in place
• Reach to one side, reach to other

For older or more skillful children, you can try some of these:

You can do one round of the activities or even two or three reps!

25. Simon Says Active Version

Of course, you all know the basic idea of Simon Says .

But it works really well in PE sessions if you make the moves super-active!

So, rather than ‘Simon says touch your nose’ kind of instructions, you want to think more along the lines of ‘Simon says crawl like snakes across the floor!’

Some other good examples might be:

‘Simon says wade through the muddy swamp.’

‘Simon says climb the rope ladder.’

‘Simon says run like a cheetah on all fours!’

26. Captain’s Coming

This is another game that is donkey’s old, but children love it generation after generation.

All the kids pretend to be on a boat. The adult gives orders to the ‘crew’.

These include:

Scrub the deck  – Get on hands and knees and start scrubbing the floor!

Swim to shore  – Use a powerful front crawl to move around the space

Into the hammock  – Lie down on the floor

Lift the cannonballs  – Lift up those super heavy cannonballs, and load them into the cannon!

Row the boat  – Row!

Captain’s coming  – Salute!

27.Melting Moments

This is a visualization and mindfulness game that is great as a warm-down.

The children are going to be imagining that they are something that melts. For example, they could be:

-A chocolate bar

-An ice-cube

Let’s imagine we go for ‘snowman’. Tell the children to stand in a space and then close their eyes.

Tell them to imagine that they are transforming into a snowman. They can feel their freezing cold body, their carrot nose, and coal for their eyes.

But now the hot sun has come out. You can feel the warmth on your face!

Feel how the snow is melting your body. Water is starting to drip down the snowman.

Imagine you are shrinking! You are getting lower to the ground! And finally, you are a steaming puddle lying on the floor.

(Ask the children to lie down and imagine this!)

28. Figures Of Eight

This is a good game to use as a warm-down.

The basic idea is that the kids stand in a space, and they are going to form a large figure 8 in the air with different parts of their bodies.

Start with their finger, but then move on to using their:

Warming Up And Cooling Down

To warm-up before PE Class or a fun activity at home, I like to play some music with a good steady beat and perform some repetitive actions for the children to copy. I make sure I warm up my arms, shoulders, feet, legs, hips, and neck. 

To cool down after PE games, try some nice long stretches for all the different body parts. I always like to finish a cool-down with some big deep breaths. Scoop up some air, stretch up and hold it above your head and then blow it away as you release your arms back down to your sides. 

Not Just Good For Physical Learning

One of the biggest benefits of daily physical activity is that children’s behavior improves as well as their overall confidence and independence. Check out this study on tracking of physical activity into into adulhood for more information on the benefits of PE Games .

Now that’s something worth trying for.

Good luck if you try out any of these fun PE games!

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Physical activity for preschool-aged children.

All children need physical activity to grow up strong and healthy. It is important to start early to build a strong foundation for an active lifestyle.

How Much Activity Do Preschool-Aged Children (3-5 years) Need?

Younger kids love to be active naturally. Offer a variety of age-appropriate and enjoyable activities. Encourage them to move and engage in active play as well as in structured activities, such as throwing games and bicycle or tricycle riding. Include activities that strengthen muscles and bones. Aim for these recommendations:

• Physical activity  every day throughout the day (aim to keep them moving at least 3 hours a day)
• Active play  through a  variety  of enjoyable physical activities

Types of Activity for Preschool-Aged Children

Strong Heart

Do activities that get your heart beating faster. Some examples include:

• Games such as tag or follow the leader
• Playing on a playground
• Tricycle or bicycle riding
• Walking, running, skipping, jumping, dancing
• Catching, throwing, or kicking games
• Gymnastics or tumbling

Strong Muscles

Do activities that make your muscles work harder than usual. Some examples include:

• Games such as tug of war
• Climbing on playground equipment

Strong Bones

Do activities the produce pressure to help bones get stronger. Some examples include:

• Hopping, skipping, jumping
• Jumping rope

Ready to Get Active as a Family?

Finding ways to get moving together helps fit more physical activity into everybody's day. Include family walks, riding bikes, or playing active games together as part of your family's daily routine. Go to public parks, community baseball fields, or basketball courts to encourage everyone to be active.

Don't forget to make physical activity fun. Try one of our family activities:

Need more physical activity ideas for your family?

Subscribe to our Family Fun on the Run newsletter  or  view past newsletters  to find more ideas on how to add physical activity to your already hectic schedule.

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P.E. Lessons

Physical education prepares children for an active and healthy life while improving self discipline and reducing stress. This section includes PE lessons from kindergarten through high school spanning different skill levels and objectives. Lessons are categorized by grade for easy retrieval. These lessons were created by real teachers working in schools across the United States. The section will continue to grow as more teachers like you share your lesson plans. We encourage you! Share your lessons plans Teacher.org, contact us .

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P.e. environmental lesson plans, food chain tag.

Students will learn a brief background about energy transfer between the sun, producers, primary consumers, and secondary consumers. ½ of the students are primary consumers (plants) and ¼ of the students are primary consumers (rabbits) and ¼ of the students are secondary consumers (hawks).

P.E. P.E. Lesson Plans

Aces and exercise.

Using a deck of playing cards, the students will pick the number of reps for various exercises.  

And Freeze!

Students will practice listening skills and basic physical concepts as required in physical education class. Students will also work on balance and coordination.

Animal Laps

Combining information about the speed of animals, the students will run laps in the gym or outdoors.

Basketball Relay

Students will practice teamwork, dribbling, and shooting a basketball.

Bear Hunt Obstacle Course

This plan will combine reading with balance and coordination skills to allow students to navigate a simple obstacle course.

Boom Over Movement Game

Students will play a game in which they need to change direction quickly. Students are to pretend that they are on a sailboat that is in the middle of a storm. They will have to run and change direction based on verbal commands and duck quickly to avoid being hit by the imaginary boom.

Butterfly Stretches

This lesson is designed to help students learn the importance and reasons for exercise through multiple activities and discussions.

Coordination Course

This plan will allow students to practice coordination while staying physical.

Multi-Ball Basketball

The student will participate in a game of basketball using various sizes of available balls.

Music Movement

The students will move to the music based on its beat, words, tune, and other variables.

On Top of Spaghetti

Pe immigration.

The students will research games and activities from other countries to share during a PE class.

Pass It Off

This lesson will allow students to practice passing, dribbling, and bouncing skills using basketballs

Plate Aerobics

Students will practice basic aerobics moves while trying to stay positioned on paper plates, this aids in coordination.

Race to the Answer

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork, basic math skills, and get exercise through a relay race. Note: Problems/difficulty level can be altered by grade

Ride ‘Em Cowboy/girl

This lesson will allow students to practice gross motor skills.  

Students will practice listening skills and basic physical concepts as required in physical education class.

Ski to the Finish Line

This plan will allow students to practice coordination while staying physical. Students will demonstrate moving straight, backwards, and in a zig-zag pattern.

The New PE Class

The students will create a PE activity to share and demonstrate to peers.

This lesson will allow students to practice teamwork and trust building, as well as working on directionality for younger students.

What Time is it FOX?

The students play a game where they practice different movements including jumping, galloping, skipping, running, jogging, leaping, and walking. Based on National Physical Education Standards, students should have been learning these skills for the last 4 years.

P.E. Science Lesson Plans

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Teacher.org’s lesson plans encourage conceptual understanding and lifelong learning skills in students as well as empower and motivate teachers.

Are you currently teaching but have the desire to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education? Follow your passion for teaching but at the same time give yourself the tools to further your career and learning. Whether it’s higher salaries, advanced career opportunities, or leadership positions, earning your Master’s Degree in Education is one worth pursuing. Make it your time!

Top 33+ Playful Physical Games For Preschoolers

Jane Ng • 16 April, 2024 • 10 min read

Attention all parents, teachers, and caregivers of energetic preschoolers! If you’re looking for delightful and easy-to-organize games that will have your little munchkins hopping with excitement, look no further. In this blog, we’ve gathered a collection of 33 indoor and outdoor physical games for preschoolers , promising endless fun and laughter. 

Let’s embark on this playful adventure!

Table of Contents

Tips for creating a safe environment for physical games for preschoolers, 19 indoor physical games for preschoolers.

• 14 Outdoor Physical Games For Preschoolers

Final Thoughts

• FAQs About Physical Games For Preschoolers

Creating a safe environment for physical games is crucial to ensure that preschoolers can have a blast without any unnecessary risks. Here are tips to help you set the stage for safe and joyful play:

1/ Start by choosing a play area with a soft and cushioned surface

A grassy lawn or a rubberized playground surface can be ideal. Avoid hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt, as they can lead to more serious injuries if a child falls.

2/ Check the equipment

If you’re using any play equipment or toys, inspect them regularly for any signs of wear and tear. Make sure they are age-appropriate and meet safety standards. Replace or repair anything that looks damaged.

3/ Supervision is key

Always have adult supervision during physical playtime. An attentive eye can quickly address any potential hazards, diffuse conflicts, and ensure that children are using equipment correctly.

4/ Set simple and easy-to-understand rules for the games

Teach children about sharing, taking turns, and respecting one another’s space. Emphasize the importance of teamwork and playing safely.

5/ Help kids learn to pay attention to their bodies

Playing can be tiring, so ensuring they stay hydrated and take short breaks will keep them energized and reduce the risk of overheating.

If a child is feeling tired or sore, they should take a break.

6/ Always have a basic first aid kit nearby. 

In the case of minor cuts or scrapes, having the necessary supplies readily available will help you quickly attend to any injuries.

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Indoor physical games for preschoolers can be a fantastic way to keep them active and engaged, especially on days when the weather doesn’t permit outdoor play. Here are 19 fun and easy-to-organize games:

1/ Freeze Dance: 

Play some music and let the children dance around. When the music stops, they must freeze in place until the music starts again.

2/ Balloon Volleyball: 

Use a soft balloon as the ball and encourage the kids to hit it back and forth over a makeshift net or imaginary line.

3/ Simon Says: 

Have a designated leader (Simon) give commands for the kids to follow, such as “Simon says touch your toes” or “Simon says hop on one foot.”

4/ Animal Races: 

Assign each child an animal and have them mimic the movements of that animal during a race, like hopping like a bunny or waddling like a penguin.

5/ Mini-Olympics: 

Set up a series of simple physical challenges, like jumping through hula hoops, crawling under a table, or tossing beanbags into a bucket.

6/ Indoor Bowling: 

Use soft balls or empty plastic bottles as bowling pins and roll a ball to knock them down.

7/ Obstacle Course: 

Create an indoor obstacle course using pillows to jump over, tunnels to crawl through, and masking tape lines to walk along.

8/ Laundry Basket Basketball: 

Place laundry baskets or buckets on the floor and have the kids toss softballs or rolled-up socks into them.

9/ Indoor Hopscotch: 

Use masking tape to create a hopscotch grid on the floor and let the kids hop from one square to another.

10/ Pillow Fight: 

Set ground rules for gentle pillow fights to allow the children to release some energy in a fun and safe way.

11/ Dance Party: 

Turn up the music and let the kids dance freely, showing off their moves.

12/ Indoor Soccer: 

Create goals using household items and have the children kick a soft ball or a rolled-up pair of socks into the goals.

13/ Animal Yoga: 

Lead the kids through a series of yoga poses named after animals, like “downward dog” or “cat-cow stretch.”

14/ Paper Plate Skating: 

Place paper plates under the children’s feet and let them “skate” around on a smooth floor.

15/ Feather Blowing: 

Provide each child with a feather and have them blow on it to keep it in the air as long as possible.

16/ Ribbon Dancing: 

Give the kids ribbons or scarves to wave and twirl around while dancing to music.

17/ Indoor Bowling: 

Use empty plastic bottles or cups as bowling pins and roll a ball to knock them down.

18/ Beanbag Toss: 

Set up targets (like buckets or hula hoops) at varying distances and have the children toss beanbags into them.

19/ Musical Statues: 

Similar to the freeze dance, when the music stops, the kids have to freeze in a statue-like pose. The last one to freeze is out for the next round.

These indoor physical games are sure to keep preschoolers entertained and active even on the rainiest days! Remember to adapt the games based on the space available and the children’s ages and abilities. Happy playing!

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Outdoor Physical Games For Preschoolers

Here are 14 delightful outdoor games for preschoolers:

1/ Duck, Duck, Goose: 

Have the kids sit in a circle, and one child walks around tapping others on the head, saying “duck, duck, goose.” The chosen “goose” then chases the tapper around the circle.

2/ Red Light, Green Light: 

Designate one child as the traffic light who shouts “red light” (stop) or “green light” (go). The other kids must move towards the traffic light, but they must freeze when the “red light” is called.

3/ Nature Scavenger Hunt: 

Create a list of simple outdoor items for the children to find, like a pinecone, a leaf, or a flower. Let them explore and gather the items on their list.

4/ Water Balloon Toss: 

On hot days, have the children pair up and toss water balloons back and forth without popping them.

5/ Bubble Party: 

Blow bubbles and let the kids chase and pop them.

6/ Nature I-Spy: 

Encourage the kids to find and identify various natural items in the surroundings, like a bird, a butterfly, or a specific tree.

7/ Three-Legged Race: 

Pair the kids up and have them tie one leg together to race in pairs.

8/ Hula Hoop Ring Toss: 

Lay hula hoops on the ground and have the children toss beanbags or rings into them.

9/ Obstacle Course: 

Create a fun obstacle course using cones, ropes, hula hoops, and tunnels for the children to navigate.

10/ Tug of War: 

Divide the kids into two teams and have a friendly tug of war using a soft rope or a long scarf.

11/ Sack Races: 

Provide large burlap sacks or old pillowcases for the children to hop in a sack race.

12/ Nature Art: 

Encourage the kids to create art using natural materials they find, like making leaf rubbings or mud paintings.

13/ Ring-Around-the-Rosy: 

Gather the children in a circle and sing this classic song, adding a fun spin at the end by all falling together.

14/ Outdoor Picnic and Games: 

Combine physical play with a picnic in a park or backyard, where the kids can run, jump, and play after enjoying a tasty meal.

Remember to always prioritize safety and make sure the games are suitable for the age and abilities of the children involved. 

Physical games for preschoolers are not just a way to burn off energy; they are a gateway to joy, learning, and unforgettable experiences. Hopefully, with these 33 physical games for preschoolers, you can make every game a treasured memory your kids carry with them throughout their journey of growth and discovery.

Make sure not to miss out on the treasure trove of templates and interactive features offered by AhaSlides. Dive into this library of creativity and design the most amazing game nights for you and your family! Let the fun and laughter flow as you embark on exciting adventures together.

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What are examples of physical activity for preschoolers? 

Examples of physical activity for preschoolers: Balloon Volleyball, Simon Says, Animal Races, Mini-Olympics, and Indoor Bowling.

What are fun physical activities for kids? 

Here are some physical activities for kids: Nature Scavenger Hunt, Water Balloon Toss, Bubble Party, Three-Legged Race, and Hula Hoop Ring Toss.

Ref: Active For Life | The Little Tikes

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15 Best Movement Activities for Preschoolers in 2024

1. Sneaky Shapes Games

2. ball dunk: toss up games, 3. animal walks, 4. obstacle course, 5. freeze dance, 6. balloon toss, 7. parachute play, 8. simon says, 9. yoga for kids, 10. connect the ‘dots’.

Is your little one a ball of nonstop energy?  Movement activities for preschoolers are the perfect way to channel that energy and help them learn and grow while they play! This blog post is packed with fun ideas to get your preschooler moving and grooving.

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15 Fun Movement Activities for Preschoolers

In this online game , children drag and drop different shapes into matching outlines. It’s designed to enhance fine motor skills and shape recognition. This game is perfect for young learners as it helps develop precision with finger movements, making it an engaging and educational activity for little ones.

This is an interactive online game where children aim and toss a virtual ball into a moving or stationary basket. The game focuses on improving hand-eye coordination and precision. It’s simple yet challenging, providing lots of fun as kids try to time their throws perfectly to score a basket. This game is great for practicing aiming skills in a playful and supportive virtual environment.

In this activity, children pretend to be different animals. Instruct them to choose an animal and demonstrate how it moves: bear crawling on hands and knees, frog hopping from a squatting position, or snake slithering on its belly. 

How it Helps: This is one of the most fun movement games that allows children to use their bodies in various ways. Engaging in this game helps develop their motor skills and expands their creativity by allowing them to imagine themselves as different animals.

Set up a simple obstacle course using household items like pillows to jump over, boxes to crawl through, and toys to zigzag around. Encourage the children to go through the course as quickly as possible while navigating the obstacles safely. 

This movement idea is perfect for preschoolers as it helps enhance their physical coordination and agility. It also teaches them to follow instructions and solve physical challenges.

Play music and let the children dance freely around the room. When the music stops, they must immediately freeze in whatever position. This activity is a fun way to teach children about rhythm and to react quickly to changes. 

Freeze Dance is effective for improving listening skills and reaction times, making it a great addition to movement games for preschoolers.

Give each child a balloon and ask them to keep it in the air using only their hands or feet. They can toss it up gently and catch or hit it before it touches the ground. This activity is enjoyable and helps children develop their hand-eye coordination and balance. It’s an excellent choice for movement activities for preschoolers because it encourages them to control their movements and stay focused on the balloon.

If you are looking for mess free play time, here is a fun online balloon pop game you should try:

Use a large parachute or a bedsheet, and have the children hold the edges. Everyone should lift it high and then lower it down, creating waves. Place lightweight balls on the parachute and try to keep them bouncing without falling off. This game improves teamwork and coordination among preschoolers, as they learn to work together and predict the parachute’s movements.

Lead a game of “Simon Says” by instructing the children to perform different actions like jumping high, stomping loudly, or twirling around, only when “Simon says” to do so. This game sharpens listening skills and enhances physical awareness as children engage in a variety of motor movements. It’s a fun way to encourage active listening and quick responses.

Teach simple yoga poses suitable for young children, such as the tree pose, where they balance on one foot, or the cat-cow, where they arch and round their backs. These poses help improve flexibility and balance. Introducing yoga is beneficial for preschoolers as it promotes a sense of calm and helps them practice focus and body awareness.

Create large dots on the floor with tape or paper. Ask children to connect the dots by walking, hopping, or jumping from one to the next in a sequence. This activity enhances their ability to follow directions and recognize patterns. It is a fundamental part of creative movement activities as it allows children to explore space and practice their locomotor skills.

11. Alphabet Scavenger Hunt

Hide objects around the room or outdoor area that start with different letters of the alphabet. Give each child a list of letters to find. This scavenger hunt is a dynamic way to incorporate learning with physical activity, making it an exciting choice for action activities for preschoolers. It encourages them to move around while enhancing their letter recognition and problem-solving skills.

12. Action Songs & Rhymes

Use songs that include instructions for movements, such as “If You’re Happy and You Know It” or “The Hokey Pokey.” These songs engage children in music and movement activities, helping them to listen and move according to the lyrics. Singing and performing the actions improve their motor skills, coordination, and rhythm.

13. Skip Counting Hopscotch

Draw a hopscotch grid on the ground and number the squares for skip counting (like 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.). As children hop on each square, they count out loud. This game is a fantastic way to combine physical exercise with learning math concepts. It’s one of the best creative movement activities that encourage children to think and move simultaneously, enhancing both cognitive and physical development.

14. Bean Bag Toss

Set up several targets using boxes or hoops at varying distances. Give each child a bean bag and let them try to toss it into the targets. This activity is excellent for developing children’s aiming skills and hand-eye coordination. It also encourages them to understand distance and force as they learn how hard to throw the bean bag to reach different targets.

15. Duck, Duck, Goose

Have the children sit in a circle. One child walks around the outside of the circle, tapping each seated child lightly on the head while saying “duck” each time. Randomly, they will say “goose” when tapping a child, who must then jump up and chase the “it” around the circle. The goal is to tag that child before they can sit down in the vacant spot. This game is a fun way to develop quick reflexes and speed and social interaction among preschoolers.

4 Benefits of Movement Activities for Preschoolers

Movement activities for preschoolers are more than just fun ways to burn energy. They help your little one grow strong and healthy in many ways!

• Running , jumping, and throwing – these movement activities build gross motor skills, which your child needs for climbing, playing sports, and everyday activities. They also help with fine motor skills, like holding a crayon or kicking a ball with control. Plus, coordination gets a boost, helping your child move their body smoothly.
• Movement activities are like a brain workout! They help develop your child’s brain, improve memory, and even build problem-solving skills . Think about it: figuring out how to climb over a pillow obstacle course is like solving a mini-challenge!
• Playing tag or sharing a parachute with other kids encourages teamwork, cooperation, and communication. These movement activities help your child learn to work together, share, and make new friends!
• Movement activities aren’t just physical. They help your child manage emotions, like calming down after a meltdown or releasing energy when restless. They can also reduce stress and boost your child’s self-esteem, making them happy and confident!

Incorporating various movement activities for preschoolers into their daily routine is essential for their physical and cognitive development. These fun and engaging activities help little ones grow stronger, smarter, and more coordinated, making learning through play a joyful experience for everyone involved.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is a movement activity.

A movement activity involves physical actions that increase mobility and exercise different parts of the body. These activities are often designed to improve health, coordination, strength, and cognitive skills through playful and structured exercises.

What are the 4 types of movement?

The four types of movement are locomotor, non-locomotor, manipulative, and stabilizing. Locomotor movements involve traveling from one place to another, like walking or jumping. Non-locomotor movements are performed without traveling, such as twisting or bending. Manipulative movements involve handling objects with control, like throwing or catching. Stabilizing movements focus on maintaining balance and posture.

What are the 5 movement patterns?

The five basic movement patterns are push, pull, hinge, squat, and rotation. These patterns cover the fundamental ways in which the body can move and are essential for performing daily activities efficiently and safely. They are used in various combinations in all physical activities and exercises.

What are some sensory movement activities?

Sensory movement activities include crawling through tunnels, jumping on a trampoline, or playing with textured balls.

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How motor skills and physical activity can enhance preschoolers' learning

P reschoolers' are at a pivotal stage in their lives when it comes to development. Their curious minds are like sponges, ready to soak up knowledge. Their tiny bodies are in the process of gaining control and strength. What might seem like playtime is, in fact, a crucial period of early learning and growth.

According to research published in the Child Development Journal, regular engagement in physical activities among preschoolers' was linked to improvements in their executive function, leading to enhanced working memory, attention control, and problem-solving skills.

In this article, Sibi Fakih, Lead Curriculum Development at Kangaroo Kids, delves into the impact of motor skills and physical activity on enriching the learning journey of preschoolers':

Small steps, big gains :Preschoolers' often engage in creative play with toys like building blocks, puzzles, and art supplies. These activities may seem like simple fun, but they are essential for developing fine motor skills. As they grasp and manipulate objects, they enhance their hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and spatial awareness. These skills are vital for later endeavours such as writing, drawing, and even using technology.

Leap to success : Running, jumping, skipping, and climbing are all part of the physical play that preschoolers naturally enjoy. These activities improve their gross motor skills and help them develop balance, strength, and agility. These skills are crucial for physical health and enable children to participate in organised sports and activities as they grow.

Research also indicates that removing or reducing physical activity classes at educational institutions may be detrimental to children's physical and mental health.

Talk, share, thrive : Physical activities often involve communication and social interaction. Preschoolers' learn to express themselves verbally, using words to coordinate games and activities with their peers. This fosters language development and aids in building social skills as children learn to share, cooperate, and resolve conflicts.

Emotions in motion : Physical activity can help preschoolers regulate their emotions, as validated by academics in the Early Childhood Education Journal. Running and jumping release pent-up energy and reduces stress.

Additionally, engaging in group activities teaches them how to manage their feelings in a social context. When they experience the joy of playing with others, they learn to understand and manage their emotions.

Sharper minds, stronger focus : Physical activities challenge preschoolers' to remember rules and sequences of actions. For example, following an obstacle course can improve memory and attention. These skills, honed during play, prove invaluable as they transition to more structured learning environments in elementary school, where they'll need to remember and follow more complex instructions, ultimately aiding in academic success.

Leveraging physically active experiences by integrating them into classrooms is also a potent means to build better health among toddlers, as per the Early Childhood Education Journal.

A boost in confidence: As preschoolers' achieve milestones in physical activities, whether it's learning to tie their shoelaces or mastering a bicycle, they gain a sense of accomplishment. This boost in confidence extends to their overall learning journey as they begin to believe in their abilities to tackle new challenges.

Exploration and curiosity : Engaging in physical activities like nature walks or scavenger hunts can encourage preschoolers to explore the world around them. They start to ask questions, observe their environment, and connect with the natural world. This kind of exploration fuels their innate curiosity and sets them on a path of lifelong learning.

Preparing for formal education : The skills acquired through physical activities lay the foundation for future academic success. Preschoolers' with solid motor skills and who are physically active tend to adapt better to the more structured environment of elementary school. They can sit, listen, and follow instructions more effectively.

THE BOTTOM LINE

In conclusion, the preschool years are a vital time for development, and the seemingly simple act of play is a powerful tool for enhancing a child's learning journey. Motor skills and physical activities are not just about running and jumping; they provide a holistic approach to development, encompassing physical, cognitive, emotional, and social growth.

Parents and educators should encourage and support preschoolers in their physical play, knowing that it's an integral part of their educational journey.

As preschoolers' explore, move, and play, they are not just having fun; they are building a strong foundation for a lifetime of learning and growth.

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Top 45 Fun Preschool Math Activities

Engaging preschoolers in math activities isn’t just about preparing them for school—it’s about opening their minds to the wonders of math found in the world around them.

Our curated collection of math activities is specially designed for preschoolers. This roundup features a delightful mix of games, crafts, and playful learning experiences that make learning numbers both accessible and fun.

We’ll show you how to transform everyday moments into learning opportunities, sparking a love for numbers and logic that will benefit your child throughout their educational journey.

These math activities teach counting, sorting, shapes recognition and basic addition and subtraction concepts in a fun way.

1. Ice Cream Math

This engaging activity combines the irresistible allure of ice cream with fundamental math concepts, turning education into a playful adventure.

As students explore the colorful and tasty realm of scoops, cones, and toppings, they not only develop early math skills but also cultivate a positive attitude towards learning.

Learn more: Fun a Day

2. Count Using Clothespin

This activity makes learning interactive and enjoyable. “Count Using Clothespin” fosters a love for math in a creative and accessible way, encouraging young students to explore, engage, and master foundational numeracy skills with excitement and ease.

Learn more: And Next Comes L

3. Fun Pizza Counting

This activity involves creating paper pizza slices with numbered toppings for a fun pizza counting game. Children can match toppings to corresponding numbers, making counting interactive and enjoyable.

Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4me

4. Feed the Shark Math Game for Preschool

Label different fish with numbers. Children can “feed” the shark’s mouth numbers in correct order.

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5. Mystery Math: A Crayon Resist Activity

By having children use white crayons to write or draw math problems on white paper. Then, they can paint over the paper with watercolors, revealing the hidden math mysteries

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6. Shapes Pizza Topping Counting

In this Activity students will count the “toppings” or the shapes in the pizza.

Learn more: The Teachers Bagpack

7. Counting and Number Matching with Paper Cups

In this exercise students match numbers with corresponding quantities by arranging paper cups in a fun and interactive manner.

Learn more: Fun Learning Kids

8. Cookie Jar Number Matching

“Cookie Jar Number Matching” is a preschool math activity that combines the sweetness of cookies with the joy of learning numbers.

This interactive exercise invites young learners to match numbered cookies with corresponding jars, turning the process of number recognition into a delightful game.

Learn more: Tot Schooling

9. Play Dough Mat Counting

In this activity preschoolers can mold their way into mathematical mastery! This hands-on math activity combines the tactile joy of playdough with the excitement of counting.

Learn more: Life Over C’s

10. One-To-One Correspondence Intervention

This intervention focuses on the concept of one-to-one correspondence, where children develop the ability to match each object with a specific number.

Learn more: Creative Kindergarten Blog

11. Basic Math with Fall Leaves

In this hands-on activity, children can count, sort, and group fallen leaves, turning a natural outdoor experience into a math adventure.

Learn more: From a Step Stool

12. Fun Preschool Counting Puzzles

Each puzzle piece holds a numerical mystery waiting to be solved, make sure the number will match the half pair of the apple.

Learn more: Look We’re Learning

13. Simple Counting Activity

This easy counting exercise involves counting in a fun way. To practice counting, students fill the cupcake molder to the proper number of rolled cotton balls.

Learn more: Laughing Kids Learn

14. Farm Animal Dice Game

This game turns counting into an entertaining activity by incorporating colorful dice featuring various farm animals. Children roll the dice, count the corresponding animals, and match them to their game cards or board.

Learn more: Views from a Stepstool

15. Apple Counting Playdough Mats

In this Apple Counting Playdough Mats activity, provide mats with apple illustrations and corresponding numbers. Children can use playdough to create the corresponding number of “apples” on each mat.

Learn more: View from a Step stool

16. Counting Chics Busy Bag

In this Counting Chicks Busy Bag activity, attach chick illustrations to popsicle sticks with corresponding numbers.

Learn more: Views from a stepstool

17. Kite Themed Pre-school Math

This themed math exploration combines the joy of flying kites with foundational math concepts.

Learn more: Teach Beside Me

18. Monster Dice Match

This engaging game involves rolling dice featuring friendly monster faces and then finding the corresponding number of monsters on the game board. The whimsical monsters add an element of fun, turning basic counting into an exciting challenge.

Learn more: The Measured Mom

19. A Simple and Active Dice Game for Preschoolers

Whether it’s mystery, counting, or moving each number on the dice is associated with a different task.

Learn more: This Reading Mama

20. Build A City Lego Math

This activity combines the timeless appeal of LEGO bricks with foundational math concepts.

Learn more: Cinta and Co

21. Number Hunt Math Sensory Bin

In this hands-on activity, a sensory bin is filled with a variety of materials like rice, beans, or sand, hiding numeral cards or objects with numbers. Children dive into the bin, feeling and searching for hidden numbers.

Learn more: Busy Toddler

22. Counting Beads on Pipe Cleaners

This activity is simple and easy, put a right amount of beads according to the numbers indicated in the pipe cleaners.

23. Easy DIY Cardboard Parking Lot Number Matching Activity

Create an Easy DIY Cardboard Parking Lot Number Matching Activity by drawing parking spaces on cardboard and labeling each with a number. Provide small toy cars with corresponding numbers for children to match and place in the correct parking spots.

Learn more: B-Inspired Mama

24. Rubber Duck Math Race

The “Rubber Duck Math Race” transforms learning into a fun water adventure, promoting both numeracy skills and physical activity for young learners.

25. Feed the LEGO Monsters Shapes

After crafting paper bags into a LEGO monsters, students can start “feeding” them LEGO’s according to it’s shape.

Learn more: Toddler Approved

26. Shapes Scavenger Hunt

This activity involves a Shapes Scavenger Hunt where children search for different shapes and color the corresponding shapes on an activity paper.

Learn more: Rocky Homeschool Net

27. Simple Fine Motor Snowball Counting

In this activity by provide a set of small, soft “snowballs” (cotton balls or pom-poms) and numbered containers. Students pick up the snowballs and placing the correct number in each container.

Learn more: Views from a Step Stool

28. Outdoor Number Hunt for Preschoolers

Take learning outdoors with the “Outdoor Number Hunt for Preschoolers.” Create an engaging scavenger hunt by placing numbered cards or cutouts in various spots around a safe outdoor area.

Encourage children to explore the surroundings and find the hidden numbers. As they discover each number, have them count aloud or match the numbers to corresponding objects in the environment.

Learn more: The Lady Birds Adventure

29. Number Pocket Game for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Create pockets or pouches labeled with numbers and attach them to a board or wall. Prepare small cards or objects with corresponding numbers and invite the little ones to match and place them into the correct pockets.

31. Number Bug Sticky Wall

Cut out colorful bug shapes, each labeled with a number. Attach the bugs to a vertical surface using double-sided tape or a sticky wall. Encourage the little ones to find and stick the bugs onto the corresponding numbers on the wall.

32. Easy Sticker Number Match

Make learning numbers a fun and colorful experience with the “Easy Sticker Number Match” activity. Create a set of numbered cards or draw large numerals on sheets of paper. Then, provide sheets of stickers with corresponding numbers.

33. Number Dig, Wash & Match

Fill a large container with sensory material like rice, beans, or sand. Hide numeral cards or objects with numbers in the sensory material. Provide toddlers or preschoolers with small shovels, spoons or just their hands, inviting them to dig through the material to discover the hidden numbers.

34. Counting Movement Stick Game for Kids

Arrange the sticks in a container or scatter them on the floor. Children pick a stick and perform a corresponding movement or action the number of times indicated.

35. Bunny Tangrams

“Bunny Tangrams” offer a hands-on and visually stimulating way for children to explore shapes and patterns while having fun crafting their unique bunny creations.

36. Sink/Float/Measurement Boat Challenge

This activity not only engages children in scientific exploration but also introduces basic concepts of measurement. The “Sink/Float/Measurement Boat Challenge” makes learning about buoyancy and measurement interactive and enjoyable.

38. Number Toy Hunt

Transform learning numbers into an exciting treasure hunt with the “Number Toy Hunt.” Scatter a variety of toys or objects around the play area, each labeled with a different numeral. Create a list or show flashcards with the corresponding numbers.

39. Indoor Counting Croquet

“Indoor Counting Croquet” transforms a traditional outdoor activity into an interactive and educational experience, allowing preschoolers to have fun while mastering basic numeracy concepts in a playful setting.

40. “Pressing the Buttons” – Homemade Elevator Activity

Children can take turns being the elevator operator and press the buttons to move the elevator up or down. Encourage them to announce the floor numbers and engage in pretend play scenarios, such as reaching a toy store on floor 3 or a zoo on floor 5.

41. Math Fun in the Pool

This activity involves creating Math Fun in the Pool by scattering numbers around the pool area. Kids can splash around, find the numbers, and engage in water-based numerical activities.

42. Number Hockey

Play Number Hockey by attaching numbers to hockey pucks and setting up a goal. Children can take turns shooting the pucks into the goal and then adding up the points based on the numbers.

43. Cool Math Activities for Kids: Stroller Number Fun

As you walk, encourage children to identify and count the balls on the stroller. You can make it even more engaging by pointing out everyday objects along the way and asking them to count those too.

44. Number Target Practice

Set up a target range using numbered cutouts or drawings on paper plates. Children can use soft objects such as bean bags, foam balls, or even rolled-up socks to aim and hit the targets.

45. Number Pancake

“Number Pancake” brings the delicious world of cooking into the realm of mathematics for a tasty learning experience. Create numeral-shaped pancakes by pouring batter into number molds or by freehand pouring numbers onto the griddle.

Learn more: The Educators Spin on it

Similar Posts:

• Top 100 Fine Motor Skills Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
• Discover Your Learning Style – Comprehensive Guide on Different Learning Styles
• 35 of the BEST Educational Apps for Teachers (Updated 2024)

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30+ Fun Social Emotional Activities for Preschoolers (strategies for calm kids 2024)

It’s not always easy to find emotional activities for preschoolers and ideas suitable for this age group. But there are ways to calm kids and help them develop emotional intelligence from when they are young and they are so much fun and doable – and I’ll show you how. I am always on the lookout for fun and engaging social emotional activities for preschoolers and toddlers because there are hardly any curriculum ideas for this age group.

Over the years, I’ve added many social emotional learning activity ideas right here. From small group activities for preschoolers , to individual activities and SEL activities for kids , which help them develop proper emotional skills.

This post contains affiliate links*

What is social emotional learning?

You know the drill – we’re in the classroom, mid-morning snack time, and suddenly it happens. Little Liam throws a full-on meltdown because the goldfish crackers aren’t goldfish-shaped enough. Sound familiar? Yeah, been there, done that (and maybe even bought a lifetime supply of perfectly-shaped goldfish crackers – don’t judge!).

The thing is, those meltdowns are a normal part of the preschool territory. This is why social skills activities for preschool are so important, and why we should incorporate activity for emotional development ideas any chance we get.

Their little brains are working overtime, trying to figure out this crazy world of emotions, and sometimes, well, it all just comes bursting out. But here’s the good news: we can help them navigate those stormy emotions with some fun and creative activities!

Why is teaching emotions for preschoolers important?

Think of it like this: we wouldn’t expect a tiny human to just “know” algebra, right? So why should we expect them to magically understand how to deal with anger?

That’s where Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) comes in. It’s all about helping our little learners recognize their feelings, understand why they feel that way, and then teaching them healthy ways to cope.

My favorite go-to SEL resources:

• Little Spot Social…
• Emotion Cards: This…
• Create a Spot: As…

• PUPPETS FOR…
• SENSORY TOYS FOR…
• SOCIAL EMOTIONAL…

• Spot the Face, Spot…
• Never the Same…
• A Fun Way to Talk…

• 【Recognize and…
• 【Social Emotional…
• 【ADHD & Autism…

And guess what? It can be way more fun than flashcards and lectures – enter these creative anger management activities!

Social Skills Activities for Preschool

Let’s think of these as awesome tools to help our little learners become emotion savvy!

We all know those moments – you’re in the middle of circle time, singing about bunnies and rainbows, and then BAM! Suddenly, there are tears flying because someone “borrowed” (read: stole) another child’s favorite stuffed animal. These meltdowns can feel overwhelming, but here’s the secret: a calm down corner can be your saving grace.

Think of it as a little oasis in the classroom, a safe space where kids can take a deep breath and work through their big emotions. 

We can fill it with comfy cushions, calming books, maybe even a squishy stress ball or two (because let’s be honest, sometimes adults need those too!). I talk all about it here on the blog too. 

The key is to create a space that feels inviting and helps our little ones self-regulate.

But here’s the coolest part: these activities aren’t just for meltdowns! 

We can incorporate them throughout the day to help kids recognize their emotions before they erupt. 

Think of it as preventative maintenance for tiny tantrums! Although, some of the time, these things are preventable, at times, we cannot control everything.

So go in with an open mind, and keep trying. Because, it may not work on the first go, second or third, but perhaps on the 50th go that child will come up to you and say something to make you cry (in a good way) – something you’ve taught them.

So keep at it! Below, I will share of my super fun strategies for tackling these!

5 Activities to Help Kids calm Down

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty: the fun activities that will turn your classroom into a zen garden (well, maybe not exactly a zen garden, but you get the picture!).

First up, we have our superstar activity:

Storm Starters Craft

>> You can get this anger management craft here <<

Remember that time Billy threw a fit because you wouldn’t let him climb on top of the bookshelf? Yeah, me too. 

This activity tackles those specific triggers head-on. On construction paper clouds and lightning bolts (because, let’s face it, lightning bolts are pretty cool and kids love them).

You can however use the template provided so you can add your own names and triggers etc.

The kids get to decorate their clouds, and then comes the fun part: they get to glue lightning bolts underneath, representing the things that make them mad (like not being allowed to climb bookshelves!).

See what I did there? It’s like emotional detective work! They’re identifying their triggers while creating a mini craft (because bonus points for creativity, right?). Plus, it opens up a conversation about healthy ways to deal with those stormy emotions before they turn into a full-blown meltdown. Win-win!

Okay, so we tackled the “Storm Starters” and helped our little detectives identify their emotional triggers.

Now, let’s explore some other awesome activities in our anger management arsenal.

Breathe Like a Bear

Remember those adorable videos of bears getting ready to hibernate? This activity is a fun way to teach breathing and calming skills. This helps them with their overall behavior skills too.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cynthia Kim-Eumie Shockley (@imsimplycynthia)

It’s a simple breathing exercise that even the littlest learners can master. Imagine this: the kiddos pretend to be sleepy bears getting ready for winter. 

They raise their arms high like they’re sniffing the crisp air and take a big, slow breath in.

Then, they slowly lower their arms and exhale, pretending to drift off to sleep. It’s a cute way to teach them the power of deep breathing to calm down during those frustrating moments. (Bonus points if you can add some bear growls and snores for extra giggles!)

Counting Critters

Sometimes, all it takes is a little distraction to shift gears and move away from anger. 

This activity combines that distraction with a sneaky way to practice counting skills . We grab a basket full of little toy animals (or cutouts work just fine too) and get comfy on the rug. 

The mission? To calmly count each and every critter, one by one. Focusing on counting those adorable bunnies and ladybugs can help take their minds off whatever was making them mad and refocus their energy.

Sensory Squeeze

Let’s face it, sometimes you just gotta squeeze something! This activity provides a safe and healthy outlet for those pent-up frustrations. 

We can set up a little sensory station with some calming tools like play dough.

Play dough is another BIG player in my classroom and with the kids.

Some of my favorite ‘sensory and squeeze toys’:

• CHEESE & MOUSE: The…
• HIGH QUALITY…
• EFFECTIVE STRESS…

• 3 PACK MINI STRESS…
• COLOR CHANGING…
• CALMING SENSORY TOYS…

• Available in 4 neon…

• High-quality…
• Novel Decompression…
• Minor Toys:…

The kiddos can squish and mold the dough to their heart’s content, releasing some of that physical tension that often builds up with anger.

Stress balls and beanbags are also great options for this activity. Squeezing and tossing them gently can be super grounding and help them regain a sense of control.

Happy Place Visualization

This activity takes us on a little mental vacation to a place where worries melt away. We ask the children to close their eyes and imagine their favorite happy place. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Wilch (@onemoreexclamation)

Maybe it’s a sandy beach with crashing waves, grandma’s cozy living room, or even a magical forest filled with talking squirrels (hey, no judgment here!).

The key is to get them to describe all the sights, sounds, and smells of their happy place in vivid detail.

By creating this mental escape route, they learn to self-soothe and find a sense of calm when they’re feeling overwhelmed.

How can I help my child with anger?

We’ve all been there – stuck in the cereal aisle while our little angel transforms into a full-blown meltdown machine because, well, who even knows why anymore? 

Look, anger is a normal emotion, even for our tiny humans. The trick is helping them navigate those big feelings in a healthy way. But how do we do that, you ask? Don’t worry, I’ve got some ideas here (or should I say backpack?) to turn you into a pro at helping your child deal with anger.

First things first, let’s ditch the idea of punishment. Shaming or yelling won’t magically erase their anger. Instead, let’s focus on helping them understand what’s going on and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Think of it like teaching them a new skill – the skill of managing their emotions.

You can even use social stories to help them overcome this.

Here’s the cool part: a lot of these strategies can be incorporated into your everyday routine. 

Let’s say your little one is having a meltdown because they can’t reach their favorite toy on the top shelf. Instead of getting frustrated yourself, get down to their eye level and acknowledge their feelings.

Say something like, “I see you’re really upset because you can’t get your toy. That must be frustrating!” 

By validating their emotions, you show them it’s okay to feel angry, but you also open the door to a conversation about how to deal with it calmly.

We can also use some of the activities mentioned earlier – like counting critters or taking deep breaths like a bear – to help them calm down in the moment. 

The key is to be patient and consistent. It won’t happen overnight, but with a little practice, your little superhero will be mastering their emotions in no time! 

Remember, they’re learning, and sometimes those meltdowns are just part of the process. Just take a deep breath yourself (because let’s be honest, parenting can be frustrating too!), and keep reminding yourself that you’re raising a tiny emotional ninja in the making!

Can a 7 year old have anger issues?

Remember that time little Sarah came home from school fuming mad because someone “borrowed” (a.k.a. stole) her favorite sparkly marker?

Yeah, me too. Tantrums might be a thing of the past (hopefully!), but sometimes our grade-schoolers can still get pretty fired up. So the question is: when is normal anger a sign of something bigger?

Here’s the deal: it’s totally normal for a 7-year-old to experience anger. Their brains are developing like crazy, and they’re figuring out this whole social-emotional thing. 

Think of it like this: they’re learning to navigate friendships, deal with frustration, and understand complex emotions – it’s a lot to process! So, occasional outbursts or meltdowns over a lost toy or a sibling stealing the last cookie? Totally normal.

But what if the anger feels constant, explosive, or starts to interfere with their daily life? For example, maybe Sarah isn’t just mad about the marker – she’s throwing things, yelling at her classmates, or having trouble controlling her emotions on a regular basis. 

That’s when it might be a good idea to chat with your pediatrician or a therapist. They can help you figure out if there’s something more going on and develop strategies to help Sarah manage her anger in a healthy way.

Here’s the key takeaway: don’t panic if your 7-year-old gets angry sometimes. But if those angry outbursts seem excessive or disruptive, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and seek professional guidance. 

Remember, a little support can go a long way in helping our little ones become calm, cool, and collected (even when faced with a sparkly marker thief!).

Final Thoughts

We’ve explored a whole arsenal of awesome activities to help our little cubs navigate those tricky emotions. Remember, teaching healthy anger management is a marathon, not a sprint.

There will be good days and not-so-good days (think back to that goldfish cracker meltdown, anyone?), but by being patient and consistent, we can equip our little ones with the tools they need to become emotional ninjas.

And hey, these activities aren’t just for the kiddos!

Sometimes us grown-ups could use a little deep breathing exercise or a mental vacation to our happy place (because let’s be honest, adulting can be pretty frustrating sometimes too!). So next time you feel that anger bubbling up, take a deep breath, grab some play dough, and remember – you’ve got this!

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