The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition estimates that one in three children is overweight or obese. Poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle create the perfect storm, leading to childhood obesity. Habits and values learned as a young child affect the way your child views fitness and health for the rest of his life, which is why it's vital for you to teach your preschooler at this age about the importance of movement and exercise as part of his daily routine.
Step 1
Engage preschoolers in action songs that require movement, such as "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" and "The Itsy Bitsy Spider." Teaching children to move through less formal ways than true exercise helps to create a positive association between movement and play. It also gives more sedentary children a chance to participate in action games and songs.
Step 2
Set up balance stations around the room for preschoolers to try. Balance stations consist of stable objects rising a few inches off the ground that children can stand on, including using only one foot, to improve their overall balance and coordination. Effective balance materials include an exercise mat, small step stool or playground tire. As the children progress, use less stable balancing materials, such as a foam block or scooter.
Step 3
Incorporate physical activity into learning. For instance, instead of asking children questions, throw a ball to whomever you'd like to answer. Or, use lessons that use physical activity, such as setting up color stations around the room and having preschoolers move around the room to each station for lessons and activities.
Step 4
Talk to preschoolers about how their bodies work. Trace their bodies on butcher paper and allow the children to decorate them as you talk about things that both help and hurt their bodies. Cut out smiles and frowns and distribute one of each to each child. When you talk about something that hurts the body, have the children hold the frown to their butcher paper models. If it's something that helps the body, they can hold up the smile.
Step 5
Lead the children in certain types of exercise, such as hopping on one foot, playing a simple sport or running in the yard during a break. When the exercise is finished, ask the children how they feel after exercise, writing down the most positive answers on a board or flip chart. Talk about how exercise and movement make the students feel to stress the importance of fitness on overall happiness and well-being.
