Hopscotch
This activity develops dynamic balance, coordination, and rhythm required for activities at older ages such as running, skipping, hopping, and dancing.
Kangaroo Hopping
This activity develops dynamic balance, coordination, and rhythm required for activities at older ages such as running, skipping, hopping, and dancing.
Mirror Mirror
This activity develops coordination and balance as kids try to imitate the movements of their parent or play partner.
Outdoor activities for 4 year olds
Discover engaging outdoor activities for 4 year olds! From soccer drills to nature scavenger hunts, ignite their imagination & developmental growth.
Top 20 engaging indoor activities for 6 year olds
Explore 20 engaging indoor activities for 6-year-olds, from sock ball rolls to balloon keep-ups. Perfect for fun-filled days indoors!
Spring activities scavenger hunt for kids
This fun scavenger hunt is the perfect activity for kids to embrace spring after a long and cold winter.
Winter activities scavenger hunt + free printable
This fun and exciting winter scavenger hunt is an excellent way for kids to explore the changes in winter weather and improve fundamental movement skills.
Fall activities scavenger hunt + free printable
This fall activities scavenger hunt is a fun way for kids to explore autumn changes and practice fundamental movement skills along the way.
What are fundamental movement skills?
In discussions of physical literacy, you’ll often hear talk of “fundamental movement skills.” What exactly are they?
39 fun ways kids can play outside this spring
The days are getting longer, the birds are singing, and my kids are full of energy. Thankfully, spring offers many opportunities for children to get moving outdoors.
Ask an expert: How to get kids more active at home?
According to early childhood education expert Dawne Clark, the key is to create an enriching home environment that invites physically active play.
11 active ways to celebrate Easter this year
Add some movement to your Easter weekend with these fun, active games for kids!
Why puddle play is so great for kids
Puddles provide kids with opportunities to learn about movement, the natural world, and play. Here are some tips for soaking up puddle fun.
How to use a fortune teller
The Active for Life fortune teller inspires movement, from balancing on one foot to catching a ball to crab-walking.
How playgrounds helped my special-needs son develop physical literacy
My youngest son, Cam, has always been full of surprises. With a flair for the dramatic, Cam decided that he would make his grand entrance into the world more than 12 weeks early. With the ensuing medical issues, including collapsed lungs, chronic lung disease, infections, viruses, heart concerns, and prolonged gastrointestinal and feeding issues, his … Continued
Emergent curriculum: How to adapt early childhood activities to meet kids’ interests
Our “groundhog maze” brings active learning to life I introduced the activity by reading the storybook Ten Grouchy Groundhogs by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook. We talked about the legend of Groundhog Day and looked at pictures of real groundhogs. The children learned about groundhog behaviour, such as living in a burrow and hibernating in … Continued
Build your own physical literacy lesson plans
As a teacher, do you want to help children develop physical literacy? Would you like an easy shortcut for creating your own lesson plans to do so? Luckily, there’s a range of excellent free resources available at Active for Life. One of the most useful is Active for Life’s (AfL) interactive online Lesson Plan Builder. While AfL’s pre-made … Continued
Unama’ki Riders strive to keep Aboriginal youth active for life
In 2015, the Unama’ki Sport Association held its first Unama’ki Riders snowboarding program. The goal was to provide youth ages 12 to 18 with the opportunity to learn how to snowboard. Since then, the program has continued to grow and provides an opportunity for Aboriginal youth to be active throughout the winter months. Winner of … Continued
Shred Sirens keeping girls active for life through skateboarding
In partnership with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) Recreation Department, the Shred Sirens is an all-female skateboarding group that runs out of Youth Centre in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. The group grew out of an existing beginner skateboard program run by the CBRM Recreation Department. It takes place year-round: in the summer month, at municipal skateboard parks across the community and in the … Continued
AfL playbook: 5 – 8 year olds
DOWNLOAD PLAYBOOK PDF Day 1: Hopscotch Skill: Hop 20 minutes This activity develops dynamic balance, coordination, and rhythm required for activities at older ages such as running, skipping, hopping, and dancing. More» Day 2: Underhand Catch Skill: Catch 15 minutes This activity develops hand-eye coordination, fine motor control, and the ability to track moving objects … Continued
AfL playbook: 3 – 5 year olds
DOWNLOAD PLAYBOOK PDF Day 1: Tightrope Skill: Balance 15 minutes This activity develops coordination and balance as kids try to walk a straight line on a rope lying on the ground. More» Day 2: Mirror Mirror Skill: Agility, Balance, Hop, Jump, Run, Skip 10 minutes This activity develops coordination and balance as kids try to … Continued
AfL playbook: 8 – 12 year olds
DOWNLOAD PLAYBOOK PDF Day 1: Bowling Milk Cartons Skill: Throw 30 minutes This activity develops coordination of arms and torso, fine motor control, and the ability to “read” distances. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve throwing an object accurately over a perceived distance (e.g., balls, frisbees, ribbons, sticks, batons). More» Day 2: … Continued
Decluttering clears the way for more movement
Creating space opens us up to more activity
Try these sprinkler games for some cool summer fun
It’s summer! If you’re looking for the perfect ingredients for backyard fun, add a pinch of friends and family, a dash of laughter, a smidge of silly, a dab of imagination, and a sprinkle of … sprinklers! Sun and waterplay go together like lemonade and ice cubes. When the temperatures go up, kids love to … Continued