How do I know if my preschooler is getting enough exercise?

Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine

A preschooler should get 60 minutes or more of exercise daily through regular active play. For preschoolers this play may be free play/unstructured activity, while it may be partially directed or sports team-related for school-age children.

Jodie Shield on behalf of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Healthcare

Ask yourself the following questions. If you can usually answer “yes” to these questions, your preschooler is probably getting enough physical activity.

Does your preschooler play outdoors or in a room where they are free to run around several times a day?
Does your preschooler watch less than two hours of TV daily (including all screen time)?
Do you make sure that your preschooler doesn’t sit for more than 60 minutes at one time?
When actively playing, is your preschooler breathing quickly and/or sweating?

More About this Book

Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight for Kids and Teens

In a world of fast food, supersized sodas, and televised temptations, this guide shows how to buck the obesity trend currently in the national spotlight—and have fun doing it. Using a family...

Continue Learning about Fitness For Children

All Roads Lead to Rome is a Sarah Jessica Parker movie that led to nowhere (Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 3.5 out of 10). But it’s also a proverb meaning ...

Dania J. Lindenberg, MD

Sports are not a good fit for every child, but there are lots of organized activities that involve p...

Baptist Health South Florida

Changing unhealthy habits can make a difference. A research study found that children who ate fruits...

Does Healthy Food Have to Be More Expensive and Less Available?

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Fitness For Children

With childhood obesity rates at an all time high, fitness for children is extremely important. There are many ways to make fitness fun for children – walking, dancing or just throwing the ball around outside. And any time that the whole family is included is an extra bonus.

Learn More