NASPE Physical Activity Guidelines for Children up to Age 5

NASPE Physical Activity Guidelines for Children up to Age 5
Physical Activity Focus	Infants	Toddlers	Preschoolers
Time for structured physical activity	Interact with caregivers in daily physical activities dedicated to exploring movement and the environment.	Engage in a total of at least 30 minutes of structured physical activity each day.	Accumulate at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity each day.
Time for unstructured physical activity	Caregivers place infants in settings that encourage and stimulate movement experiences and active play for short periods of time several times a day.	At least 60 minutesand up to several hoursper day of unstructured physical activity; should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time, except when sleeping.
Skill Development	Physical activity should promote skill development in movement.	Ample opportunities to develop movement skills that will serve as the building blocks for future motor skillfulness and physical activity.	Develop competence in fundamental motor skills that will serve as the building blocks for future motor skillfulness and physical activity.
Safety	Environment meets or exceeds recommended safety standards for performing large-muscle activities.	Indoor and outdoor areas meet or exceed recommended safety standards for performing large-muscle activities.
Adults in charge of planning for young children	Caregivers, teachers, and parents are responsible for understanding the importance of physical activity and should promote movement skills by providing opportunities for structured and unstructured physical activity.
Source: www.aapherd.org

By structuring the curriculum to promote daily physical activity, early educators thus find themselves in the unique position of being able to impact the long-term physical and intellectual well-being of children who may be at significant risk for lifelong health issues. For young children, much of the strenuous daily physical activity needed to promote physical fitness occurs during outdoor play.