Physical Activity Guidelines for Kids from 0 to 4

Click here to find physical activity guidelines for kids aged 5 to 11.

For healthy growth and development:

• More daily physical activity provides greater benefits.
• Infants (aged less than 1 year) should be physically active several times daily—particularly through interactive floor-based play.

Toddlers (aged 1-2 years) and preschoolers (aged 3-4 years) should accumulate at least 180 minutes of physical activity at any intensity spread throughout the day, including:

• A variety of activities in different environments
• Activities that develop movement skills
• Progression toward at least 60 minutes of energetic play by 5 years of age

What does this mean?

Children aged 0-4 years are encouraged to participate in a variety of physical activities that support their healthy growth and development. At this young age, children are just learning to move, whether they are starting to roll over or crawl as an infant, walk as a toddler or run around as a preschooler. Parents and caregivers should encourage infants and children to participate in a variety of physical activities that are age-appropriate, enjoyable and safe. These activities may take place with the family, at childcare, at school or in the community. These guidelines may be appropriate for infants and children with a disability or medical condition; however, their parents or caregivers should consult a health professional to understand the types and amounts of physical activity appropriate for them.

Let’s talk age-appropriate

The early years are a period of rapid growth and development, when movement naturally happens at a variety of intensities and in short bursts. All of it counts! Infants under the age of one should be physically active as a part of supervised indoor and outdoor experiences—particularly through interactive floor-based play. Activities could include tummy time, reaching and grasping, pushing and pulling, and crawling. Toddlers (aged 1-2) and preschoolers (aged 3-4) should participate in physical activities that take place in different environments and develop movement skills such as moving around the home, climbing stairs, playing outside and exploring the environment, brisk walking, running or dancing.

Progressing towards energetic play

As infants get older and become toddlers and then preschoolers, they are more able to move in a focused and consistent way. That is why the guidelines suggest that young kids progress from 180 minutes of activity at any intensity towards 60 minutes of energetic play by age five. The older children get, the more energetic play they need, such as hopping, jumping, skipping and bike riding.

The benefits of moving more are astounding

Getting the recommended amounts of physical activity helps maintain a healthy body weight, improves movement skills, builds healthy hearts, develops self-confidence and improves learning and attention. Plus, science has shown that when children increase their daily physical activity, they decrease their chances of developing many diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes and are generally healthier and happier. The more daily physical activity kids get the greater benefits they will receive.

What activities can my child do to meet the Guidelines?

It can be easy to incorporate physical activity into your child’s everyday life.

Try these tips to get children under one moving more:

• create safe spaces for play, with balls or toys to reach for and grasp
• get on the floor and play with them

For children aged one to four:

• explore the outdoors
• play music and learn action songs together
• try to walk or bike as much as you can to your destination