Outdoor Playtime
Outdoor play should be a part of daily physical activity.
The best practices (per GO NAPSACC) and the related resources in this section focus on how many times per day preschoolers and infants should be taken outside at a minimum, and how much time they should spend outdoors. Providers can use these goals to plan where and how the children in their care will be getting physical activity to reach total daily recommendations.
Best practices
The resources in this category are the same for the following four GO NAPSACC best practice goals:
- "Outdoor playtime is provided to preschool children and toddlers 3 times per day or more. (Half-day: 2 times per day or more)"
- "Outdoor playtime is provided to preschool children for 90 minutes or more each day. (Half-day: 45 minutes or more)"
- "Outdoor playtime is provided to toddlers for 60 minutes or more each day. (Half-day: 30 minutes or
more)" - "Infants are taken outdoors 2 times per day or more. (Half-day: 1 time per day or more)"
Resources
101 Tips for Increasing Physical Activity in Early Childhood
Summary : Pamphlet that provides ideas for increasing physical activity with young children.
Source: National Association for Sport and Physical Activity Education
Action Guide: For Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies
Summary: A guide for creating policies including rationale, steps for creating policies, and policy recommendations.
Source: Connecticut State Department of Education
“Get Moving” Physical Activity Early Childhood Facilitator Guide
Summary: Six lessons for childcare providers to use in teaching children ages 3-5 about physical activity. Includes teacher resources to implement each lesson, as well as corresponding materials to share with families.
Source: Michigan University State Extension
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the appropriate assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section "Get Kids Moving," find children’s activities and adult resources such as curriculums for physical activity of children under 5, training for care givers, administrative resources, guides for adapting activities and spaces for children with disabilities, and more. Find a link to a yearlong calendar that includes simple physical activities for each day of the year, as well as a link to a resource booklet "Best Practices for Physical Activity" (pages 6-11) that gives some ideas for physical activity specific to each age.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Healthy Tips for Active Play Tip Sheet
Summary: Tips for active play during inside and outside play times, including at home with families.
Source: United State Department of Agriculture
Infusing Physical Activity throughout the Child Care Day
Summary: Tips to incorporating age-appropriate physical activity, including a sample daily schedule for toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Human Services
Learning Outdoors in the Early Years: A Resource Book
Summary: Comprehensive booklet that walks providers through how to set up different outdoor play and learning areas.
Source: Foundation Stage
Mealtime Memo: Physical Activities in the Child Care Setting
Summary: Explains the importance of physical activity for children and gives activity ideas specifically for toddlers and preschoolers during indoor and outside play. Additional resources are included.
Source: Institute of Child Nutrition
Milestone Tracker Mobile App
Summary: Track and children’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with this easy-to-use check list. Includes a video and flyers explaining how to use the app.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Model Policies for Creating a Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Child Care Settings
Summary: Nutrition toolkit that describes model policies and provides tips to on how to fulfill them.
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply the tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 63-68.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans – 2nd Edition
Summary: Updated guidelines for children and adolescents on physical activity. Go to Chapter 3 (pages 46-54) to view specific recommended times and activities for preschool-aged children.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Physical Activity Toolkit for Preschool-Aged Children
Summary: A guide for early care and education centers to integrate and increase children’s physical activity throughout the day. Resources include planning and scheduling tools, sample activities, skill cards, do-it-yourself equipment tips, policy templates, and no-cost education resources.
Source: California Department of Public Health
Sample Child Care Physical Activity Policy
Summary: Example of a child care physical activity policy. It outlines the amount of expected daily play, roles of staff members, screen time, and appropriate clothing, and discipline.
Source: South Carolina Early Child Care and Education
Screen Time Reduction Early Childhood Facilitator Guide
Summary: Six lessons for childcare providers to use in teaching children ages 2-5 about reducing screen time. Includes teacher resources to implement each lesson, as well as corresponding materials to share with families.
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