5 Games to Keep Your Toddler Physically Active

Toddlers have a lot of energy and channeling it in the right way is often a challenge for many parents. Children of this age not only have energy to use up, their minds and imaginative abilities are developing rapidly so the activities that are offered to them must keep growing in sophistication so that they are challenged, not just physically, but also in term of social and cognitive development.

Here are five simple games / outdoor activities that you can introduce your toddler to. These are all designed to involve him or her and by doing so, become enjoyable.

• A tea party is not just for girls. Boys will enjoy them too. Allow the children to spend time outdoors in the afternoon accompanied by their favorite toys. Keep simple easy to eat snacks and drinks around and allow the kids to serve themselves. Not only will this give them a feeling of independence, it will encourage them to cooperate and assist in the developing of their social skills.
• Get all the neighborhood dogs together – the ones that are friendly and used to children. Show the kids how to teach them tricks and help them in their efforts. Make winners badges and ribbons for the winning kids and dogs. Decorate a small wooden box or large washbasin and make it into a winner’s podium and take photos of the winners standing on it. Not only will the kids have a lot of fun, the patience that is needed to teach is a lesson that they will learn quickly and which will give them a sight appreciation of what their parents go through in trying to teach them. This could be a monthly competition.
• Building fairy houses (or hide outs for super heroes) from things found in the yard can be a lot of fun and allows children’s imagination to run riot. Decide what kind of small house (doll house size) is to be built and then have the kids explore the backyard for twigs, leaves, moss and other materials that can be used to build it. All you need to supply is a bit of glue and a little guidance. This is a fun game that will teach the kids the value of working together and cooperating. Or you could divide the children into teams and make it a competition with rewards for the winning team.
• Hopscotch is a simple game that toddlers will quickly understand. Because of the physical nature of the game and the jumping and balancing skills required, it is a challenge that the kids will enjoy. It will allow them to demonstrate their ever increasing coordination and balance skills. A new dimension can be added to the game, if needed, by replacing the traditional hopscotch square shapes with those of fishes, butterflies, cars etc.
• The old backyard swing made of strong rope and an old car tire is an evergreen classic that will keep toddlers amused for hours. Leave them alone and watch them invent their own games. Just ensure that an adult is always on hand to keep things safe and to prevent the swinging from getting to boisterous. Make sure that the swing is safely constructed and is hanging from a strong hardwood tree with straight branch.

Another option is to just leave the kids alone for a while and watch from a slight distance. Pretty soon they will start doing something. Try to understand what they are thinking and then use your imagination to turn it into a game that they will enjoy.

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