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

Developmental activitiesWhat they encourageDevelopmental activitiesWhat they encourageActivities which encourage body awareness, balance and coordinationJumping activitiesUse equipment to encourage the use of different body parts:– Jumping:– Jumping– Objects to hold, wave, shake, bang, throw, hit or catch, eg, various balls(see ball play above for ideas), streamers, plastic bottles containing pastaor rice (lids firmly closed), pots, pans and various containers, cardboardtubes or paper wands.– Objects to move over, or climb through and around, eg, tunnels, boxes,carpet squares, ball pools, tyres, plastic boxes, taped catalogues/directories,rough areas including natural materials – wood stumps, logs and planks,climbing frames, low branches, ladders, stepping stones.• on different colour spots/carpet squares• up to catch bubbles, a scarf, hit a dangling object• over paper wands (height) and two parallel ropes ‘a river’ (distance)and into a hoop ‘pond’• from a box/bench and landing safely• over elastic, chalk lines– Balance– Muscular strengthConstruction activities• to music.– Wooden blocks, buckets and sand, cardboard boxes, blankets and pegswith chairs to make dens.– CreativityFor skills card on jumping including prompts, see page 88.– Piling up crates/boxes, knocking down and rebuilding in a different place(lifting, carrying and stacking). Building dens using different furniture,blankets and pegs (they may need your help).– Muscle strength– Social skills– Using natural materials to construct a trail and following it (with adult help),eg, twigs, stones, leaves.Walking activities– Up and down stairs (with assistance if necessary).– Walking– Walking to move a toy.– Strengthen heart and lungs– Walking for longer distances (to and from your setting, to a local venuefrom your setting).– On different surfaces (without shoes), eg, grass, carpets, hard floor.– Stamina– Balance– Sensory developmentBalance activities– Walking along different lines and equipment to challenge balance. Thesedon’t need to be high, and can be set up to provide a developmentallyappropriate challenge depending on the child’s ability. Equipment could be:– Balance• chalk or marked lines• planks of wood and/or logs• wobble boards• balance bikes.For more ideas to encourage balance, see pages 70–73.52 Early movers – Helping under-5s live active & healthy livesSection 5 – Practical ideas for physically active play 53