The Power of Balance: Activity, Rest, Screen Time, and Nutrition in Child Care

3.2 Physical Activity in a Child Care Setting

Physical activity is an important part of every child’s day. Daily physical activity includes:

Outdoor play in the morning and afternoon (weather permitting)
Active indoor movement
Structured and unstructured play

Plan physical activities that are age-appropriate and responsive to each child’s developmental needs. Children should be engaged in moderate to vigorous healthy, active outdoor play every day. This includes infants and toddlers. When weather and air quality do not permit outdoor play, indoor physical activity is still recommended. Gross motor play also provides children the chance to bond with each other and their caregivers or teachers.

A group of four children play on playground equipment.

An infant on her belly reaches for a toy held by an adult.

A special note about infants

For young infants, caregivers and teachers should interact with an infant for short periods (3–5 minutes) while the infant is positioned on their tummy (tummy time) and increase the length of the interaction as the infant shows they enjoy the activity.

Infants should not be seated for more than 15 minutes at a time, except during meals.

Questions for Action and Reflection

How does your daily schedule support rest and physical activity?