Introducing children to an active lifestyle is a key element of their healthy development from an early age. We will present examples of physical activities for children in nurseries and kindergartens, which not only bring joy, but also support children's motor and social development. In turn, suggestions for games and physical activities for children in grades 1-3 and for children aged 9-12 will encourage them to be active after long hours spent at school desks.
In this article you will find examples of songs and creative movement games for children that can be organized at home or during classes at a facility.
Pexamples of physical games for children in nursery: happy songs
Dancing to a happy song is a great example of physical activity for children in nursery. We present 2 children's songs that will encourage little ones to play physically:
- Song: The carousel is waiting, hopsasa – this is the first example of physical play for children in the nursery.
Children join hands to form a circle and move to the rhythm of the melody: Boys, girls, let's keep hurrying, the carousel is waiting, calling us from afar. The older ones have already gone, but the younger ones haven't yet. At this point in the children's song, the carousel stops and the little ones start jumping: Hey, hopsasa, hopsasa, hopsasaaaa…. The carousel starts spinning again: …how fast she runs. Hey, come on, let's hurry up and have fun! – children move energetically in a circle.
- Song: A train is traveling with children in it – lyrics of the song and rules of physical play for children in the nursery.
Children march in a circle to the rhythm of the song: The train is coming, the train is coming and there are children on the train, they are going on a trip, the sun is shining brightly (children stretch their hands up, imitating the sun's rays). First wagon hop, hop, hop (children jump), second wagon thump, thump, thump (children stamp their feet strongly), third wagon flap, flap, flap (children clap their hands) – the train is going around the world!
We repeat these examples of physical games for children in the nursery to the rhythm of the song 3-4 times each.
Creative movement games for kindergarten childrenu
Fun and creative physical games for children in kindergarten include: Spider and flies or song Father Wirgiliusz. What do these games look like?
Movement fun: Spider and flies
This is another exercise game perfect for children in kindergarten. One of the children is a spider and is standing to the side. The other little ones are bow tieswho run around the room to the rhythm of music from a tape recorder.
When the spider goes hunting, the teacher stops the music and says: Flies: on one leg/on all fours/with hands up! – the children freeze in the proposed pose, and the spider walks for about 30 seconds. between them. Whoever moves is caught in the spider's web (stands in a selected place in the room).
During this movement game for kindergarten children, after a few rounds, the children change the role of the spider.
Movement fun with a song Father Wirgiliusz
All the children form a circle and one of them stands in the middle. They sing the lyrics together songs Father Wirgiliusz. The child in the middle takes on the role of Father Virgil, performing movements that the others must precisely imitate.
During this movement game in kindergarten, each child stands inside for a while 2 song turns, showing funny moves, then changing.
Games and physical activities for children of grades 1-3that encourage joint activity
For children grades 1-3 Games and physical activities are an excellent form of joint activity, integrating their cheerful energy and developing social skills.
Movement fun: Waiter run
That's it dynamic movement fun for children of grades 1-3: Competitors run with a plastic plate with a ball, trying not to drop it on the route. Whoever runs the designated route passes the plate with the ball to the next person on the team.
Various variants of the game of tag are fun activities for children of grades 1-3 that will never get bored. Children (and the person designated as the "catcher") can move, for example, on all fours, backwards like crayfish, or jump like hares. When caught, it sits still and does not move.
Fun in Puns
Charams are an unusual way to... creative games and movement activities for children grades 1-3. The teacher prepares flashcards with drawings and/or names of e.g. animals, toys, professions.
During this movement game for children in grades 1-3, the student draws a flashcard, tells the others the category of the word presented and tries to convey it without words. You can divide the children into 2-3 competing teams.
It is not only an excellent observation training, but also a creative movement game for children that develops their imagination.
Creative and engaging movement games for children aged 9-12t
Movement fun: Four capitals
This is an exercise game for children aged 9-12, which is not only... involves physical activity, but also develops geographical knowledge. The teacher designates places in the room and gives them the names of the 4 capitals. Children hold each other's arms and pretend to be a moving train. The teacher shouts out the name of a given capital and the students must quickly move the train to a given "station".
After reaching the capital, the first person on the train says an association with a given country (e.g. Paris - France - Eiffel Tower/blue cheese). During each round of this movement game for children aged 9-12, the first person on the train moves to the end.
Dancing competition
This is a great idea for physical activity for children aged 9-12.
Organize mini dance lesson, where students can learn simple dance routines (get inspired by classic dances, e.g. salsa, cha-cha, and fashionable dance routines, e.g. Tik-Tok). Children can work in groups to create their own choreographies. It is not only great physical activity for children aged 9-12, but also develops students' coordination and creativity.
Physical games at home, for children at any age
Happy times physical fun at home to for children an opportunity for physical activity, but also to spend time with family.
- Pet Race: The first physical game for children at home is the "Animal Race": the child chooses his or her favorite animal and imitates its movements, moving across the entire length of the room. The other child/parent tries to guess what animal it is.
- Obstacle course: Using household items, organize Obstacle course. This is a great activity game for children at home. Place chairs, pillows and boxes along the route and show the children how to crawl, jump or slalom around the obstacles.
- Treasure hunters: Creative movement fun for children at home: Treasure Hunters. The parent draws a map of the room/apartment and hides one or several interesting ones treasures, adds mysterious hints and special tasks to the map, e.g. Behind the sofa, turn left, do 10 jumping jacks and stand next to the table, jump, then... – these clues lead children to a hidden treasure.
We hope the above examples of physical games for children will inspire parents and guardians to spend creative and active time with their children.
