So it’s a new year and even though we don’t have the best weather, the Montessori class decided to get active and what better way to start the new year than doing some physical activity. We don’t need good weather to get active and as we know children love the outdoors, they don’t mind if it’s wet, windy or cold, all they want to do is run around and release that extra energy they have. Physical activity is very important for young children, it decreases their chances of becoming overweight or even obese and it also helps develop their gross motor skills. Children should never be sedentary for more than 60 minutes during the day except during sleep. They need at least 60 minutes of structured play and 60 minutes of unstructured play. Even if the physical activity is broken up into small sessions, it is still beneficial to children.
Education Consultant Marjorie Ouvry said that “Limiting the right of children to be active throughout the day (and in all weathers) can lead to early signs of ADHD”.
Giving your child the opportunity to go outside and let them run around can benefit their development in so many ways. When your child is outside they have the freedom to be messy and explore the environment around them. You can have endless fun with your child when playing outside, and showing your child that you are having fun too. When outside they get the chance to shout and make noise, having more space to move around sparks their imagination. Richard Louv says that “children who play outside are less likely to get sick, to be stressed and are more adaptable to life’s unpredictable turns.” Children learn through active, hands-on experience playing, exploring, discovering and experimenting.
Some days you may like to stay indoors with your child, but the physical activity doesn’t have to stop. There are plenty of activities to do with your child that can meet your child’s physical needs. In the Montessori class we do an activity called “Bizzy Breaks” which was designed by the Irish Heart Foundation. Bizzy Breaks is a series of different movements for children to do in the classroom. By doing this activity the children become more aware of the space around them. Other indoor physical activities to do with your child include Musical Statues, Ring a Ring a Rosie, Hide and Seek and “Going on a Bear Hunt”