Parents and caregivers can help children stay active and fit. Any kind of physical activity that makes your preschoolers break a sweat or brings their heart rate up will strengthen their lungs, heart and muscles.

Here are some ideas using inexpensive materials such as pool noodles, tape, cardboard boxes and household items.

Play Hockey. You will need a lightweight ball and a couple of pool noodles to use as hockey sticks. Use a laundry basket on its side to make a goal.
Ring Toss. Cut a noodle in half, place one half straight up on the grass and secure it with skewer sticks. This becomes the “pole.” Bend and shape two other noodles into a circle using tape to connect the ends. Throw the rings from afar aiming for the “pole” on the grass.
Play soccer. Use a cardboard box for the goal or a pool noodle bent into an arch. Secure it with skewer sticks.
Galloping horses. Use a pool noodle as a horse and gallop around the yard or play area. Fold one end of a pool noddle for the horse head and tie it with tape, add a google eye on each side, then use ribbon or yarn for the hair.

Weigel, D. 2022, Eat Smart Be Active - Active Preschoolers: Outdoor Play, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno

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Also of Interest:


Let's Discover STEM: Five-Year Report 2017-2022 Nevada Sustainable Communities Project A seven-week workshop targeting children in at-risk communities in Las Vegas & Reno-Sparks to promote STEM topics and the results of said workshop. Weigel, D., Kim, Y., and Evans, B. 2022, Extension \| University of Nevada, Reno, IP-22-01
Teaching Young Children About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion It is important to teach your child about diversity, equity and inclusion. It is so important to help your children learn how to embrace diversity in a way that is respectful and celebrates different cultures, backgrounds and experiences. YaeBin Kim 2021, University of Nevada, Reno, Extension, FS-21-96
E-Books for Young Children Kim, Y. 2017, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension
Infant Language Development From the moment babies are born, they are learning how to communicate. Babies first communicate by crying and then begin to coo and babble. Infants’ speech develops as they are exposed to sounds and language, spoken and unspoken. Gestures, facial expressions and sounds are all pa... Byington, T. and Kim, Y. 2015, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, FS-15-06
Toddler Language Development During the toddler years (12 to 35 months), children’s language development grows rapidly. Toddlers gain the ability to say words clearly, combine words into phrases, and express their needs and wants. Byington, T. and Kim, Y. 2015, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Fact Sheet-15-05

Eat Smart Be Active - Active Preschoolers: Outdoor Play

Here are some ideas using inexpensive materials such as pool noodles, tape, cardboard boxes and household items.

Play Hockey. You will need a lightweight ball and a couple of pool noodles to use as hockey sticks. Use a laundry basket on its side to make a goal.
Ring Toss. Cut a noodle in half, place one half straight up on the grass and secure it with skewer sticks. This becomes the “pole.” Bend and shape two other noodles into a circle using tape to connect the ends. Throw the rings from afar aiming for the “pole” on the grass.
Play soccer. Use a cardboard box for the goal or a pool noodle bent into an arch. Secure it with skewer sticks.
Galloping horses. Use a pool noodle as a horse and gallop around the yard or play area. Fold one end of a pool noddle for the horse head and tie it with tape, add a google eye on each side, then use ribbon or yarn for the hair.

Published by: Weigel, D., 2022, Eat Smart Be Active - Active Preschoolers: Outdoor Play, Extension | University of Nevada, Reno