5 Practical ideas for physically active play - BHF National Centre ...

Everyday activitiesThese can make up a large proportion of ayoung child’s physical activity, help developmotor skills, particularly fine manipulative skills,and teach children important lessons aboutpersonal responsibility. These activities willinclude everyday chores, but can also includespontaneous games that may emerge fromsimple tidying tasks.They’re also important in helping to reducesedentary behaviour. As children of this agebecome stronger and more mobile, they can,for example, be encouraged to walk longerdistances rather than sitting in buggies.Everyday activities can include active travel andphysical tasks.Active travel can include:– walking– biking or triking– scooting to the shops, your setting, a friend’shouse, the park etc. For more information on active travel, see Section 7,pages 16–17. For more information on sedentary behaviour,see Section 2, pages 20–21. and for practical tipsto reduce sedentary behaviour in your setting,see Section 4, page 28.Physical tasks can include:– helping with gardening – weeding, digging,planting, watering, gathering leaves, raking– tidying up inside and outside play spacesand equipment– setting up and tidying away after meal times– sorting out washing – pairing socks,sorting items.42 Early movers – Helping under-5s live active & healthy lives