What You Need

Hula hoops

Or Pool Noodles (use a connector piece to form a circle)

Optional

Circus Music

Lion Costume Accessories

Ring Master Costume Accessories

What to Do

If preschoolers have seen lions or tigers perform at the circus, they will probably be eager if an adult simply says, "I put out some things so you could play lions at the circus."

If preschoolers haven't seen an animal act at the circus, consider checking out a circus video or DVD at your local library or finding a video available on the internet.

Simple Suggestions

Adults can also say, "I set some things out for you to play with. One thing you can do with those things is pretend you are animals and do animal tricks."

Encourage but Stay Out of the Creative Play

No matter how you present the idea to preschoolers, make your statements short. Let preschoolers use their imagination and see what they create on their own. When preschoolers have to think through play and how to use materials, they are developing problem solving skills and creativity. Research has shown that preschoolers engage in imaginative play for longer periods of time if preschoolers are allowed to direct their own play scenarios.

Extra Ideas for Playing Circus Lions

Lion Masks and Costumes – If you have a lion mask, costume or other lion props, set them along side the hoops or pool noodles.

Face Decoration – If you have face paint or an eye-brow pencil, you can mark whiskers on preschooler's faces for added fun.

Ring Master Cape and Hat – If you have a cape or hat for the ringmaster to wear, add it to the other circus props.

Books about the Circus – Before setting up this scene for creative fitness play, you may want to visit your local library to borrow some children's books about the circus.

Circus Music - Play lively music or circus music. Check your local library and the internet for recorded circus sounds and music.

by Kelly Pfeiffer

More Articles on Circus Themed Fitness

Circus Tricks with Paper Plate Hoops - Fitness Activity

Like this article? Get more like it in your inbox. Subscribe today to our free weekly newsletter.

Helpful Tips for Parents

• Dance is one of the most complete physical activities for preschoolers: it develops bilateral coordination, rhythm, balance, spatial awareness, and emotional expression simultaneously.

• Screen time displaces physical activity. Every hour in front of a screen is an hour not spent in physical development. Enforce daily outdoor time before screen access.

• Rest is part of fitness. Adequate nighttime sleep (10–13 hours for preschoolers) is required for physical development, muscle growth, and the energy to be active the next day.

• Physical activity and emotional regulation are directly linked. A preschooler who has had sufficient physical activity handles frustration, transitions, and disappointment more effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does physical activity affect my preschooler's sleep?

Physical activity is one of the strongest positive predictors of sleep quality and duration in preschoolers. Children who have sufficient vigorous physical activity during the day fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, and wake less frequently than sedentary peers. The timing matters: vigorous activity in the late afternoon or evening (within 1–2 hours of bedtime) can delay sleep for some children — schedule the most vigorous play before 5pm when possible.

How much physical activity do preschoolers need per day?

The WHO and CDC recommend that preschoolers (ages 3–5) be physically active throughout the day, with a minimum of 3 hours of physical activity daily — including 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous intensity. This can be accumulated across multiple sessions. Most preschoolers meet this recommendation easily if given outdoor access and unstructured play time, but children in settings with limited outdoor access or high screen time frequently do not.

Related reading: See also our swimming and water safety guide and our indoor gross motor activities for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 🧠 Brain-Body Connection — Research consistently shows that physical activity directly improves concentration, working memory, and academic readiness — making fitness time one of the highest-return educational investments in a preschooler's day.
• 💪 Strength Building — Age-appropriate strength challenges — climbing, pushing, carrying, and holding body weight — build the muscle development that children need for endurance, injury resistance, and the hand strength that fine motor tasks require.
• 😌 Emotional Regulation — Physical activity is one of the most effective emotional regulation tools available to preschoolers — vigorous movement releases stress hormones and resets the nervous system for calm, focused engagement with other tasks.
• 🎵 Rhythm & Timing — Moving to a beat, keeping rhythm in marching or clapping, and coordinating movement to music develops the temporal processing that underlies both musical ability and the phonological timing needed for reading.

Preschoolers will stay entertained and entertain family members, friends and stuffed animals as lions and lion tamers. Full of jumping and leaping, a roaring lion act combines fitness and pretend play to keep preschoolers active. As a preschool theme activity, birthday party activity or rainy day fun activity, a lion circus act develops gross motor skills, coordination and imagination for preschoolers.