Fitness for Preschoolers

Preschoolers need just as much daily physical activity as older kids and adults do (60 minutes a day). What kind of physical activity for preschoolers is most fun and effective? Find suggestions for physical activity for preschoolers.

Here's when you can expect your child to crawl, walk, and run, why gross motor skills matter, and how to help your child practice them.

Even preschoolers need lots of opportunities for physical activity, both for good health and for skill-building. At this age, kids are busy developing gross motor skills—learning to use the large muscles in their legs, arms, and trunk to run, jump, throw, catch, and kick. Try these playful physical activities to help build your child's gross...

When you choose a preschool, daycare or other care setting, you have a lot of criteria to evaluate. Is the facility safe? Are the teachers trained and loving? Can you afford the tuition? Also important: Does the preschool, daycare or home-based center have a plan in place for kids' physical fitness?

Children should start swim lessons when they are developmentally ready to learn to swim. Prior to that, water readiness programs can help prepare kids for swim lessons later.

Describes three popular methods to teach a kid to ride a bike: using training wheels, an undersized bike, or a full-sized bike with a parent running alongside.

When and how did your child learn to ride a bike? Trade tips and stories with other parents.

These rainy day activities for toddlers come in handy when the weather keeps you inside. They're just right for expending energy and building physical skills.

Toddlers and preschoolers spend a lot of time tagging along after their siblings. Many parents have little choice but to bring younger children along when they drive older ones to sports practices and other activities. If you have tag-along toddlers, be prepared. These toys, games, and activities will help keep them busy.

Toddlers need half an hour each day of structured physical activities. They need an additional hour of unstructured activities, too. Here are some outdoor physical activities you can do with your toddler to meet those needs.

Is a preschooler too young to enroll in a kids' sports program? Which organized sports are good for little kids?

Guide review of VTech's V-Motion Active Learning System, which uses a motion-sensitive controller to allow small children to play learning games while staying active.

Do you face child separation anxiety when you drop your preschooler off at the gym child care or at her dance class? Develop comforting rituals and behave confidently to ease the pain and guilt of separation anxiety.

Before you enroll your preschooler in a dance or fitness class, read this advice from Babyzone.