As adults, we may view a child’s time playing on a playground as simply a way to burn off excess energy, an opportunity to get some fresh air, and a chance to use their “outdoor voices.” What you may not realize is that there are benefits of playgrounds for toddlers and preschoolers. Whether outside playgrounds or even indoor play spaces, they are tools for helping children reach important developmental milestones.
According to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), toddlers and preschoolers should meet the following guidelines for daily physical activity to promote the development of gross motor skills:
On U-GRO’s indoor and outdoor playgrounds, our friends participate in a variety of fun activities that get their hearts pumping, bodies moving, and muscles growing. They also allow friends to express themselves in a creative and imaginative way!
Gross motor development involves the development of the large muscle groups of a child’s body. Toddlers and preschoolers are at the age where gross motor development is really taking off. Between the ages of two- and five-years-old, your child will begin running, jumping, climbing, hopping, skipping and more! As they grow older, properly developed gross motor skills are also an important part of dressing themselves, building the stamina needed for handwriting and note taking, and even sitting properly in a classroom setting.
Participating in daily physical activity that promotes the qualities of strength, stability, flexibility, and endurance will keep your toddler or preschooler on track with their gross motor development. Luckily, most young children are bursting with energy and love to play, so meeting the recommended activity timelines should not be difficult. Here are some activities that parents and teachers can encourage in children, either in structured group play or unstructured free play.
Schedule a visit at a U-GRO location near you to check out our amazing outdoor and indoor playgrounds designed to promote physical activity in toddlers and preschoolers and develop important gross motor skills.
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