Helpful Tips for Parents

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

• Limit passive sitting to less than 30 minutes at a stretch during waking hours. After 30 minutes of stillness, all preschoolers need a movement break before re-engaging with focused activities.

• Physical fitness in preschool predicts academic performance in elementary school. The brain-body connection is direct: active children concentrate better and learn more effectively.

• Model movement yourself. Children of physically active parents are dramatically more likely to be physically active across their lifespan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is yoga appropriate for preschoolers?

Preschool yoga is not only appropriate but genuinely beneficial — it develops balance, strength, flexibility, and body awareness. More importantly, it teaches preschoolers the foundational self-regulation skills of breath awareness and still-body practice. Children's yoga programs (Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube is a popular free resource) frame poses as animals and characters, making the practice engaging. 10–15 minutes of child-appropriate yoga is appropriate daily from age 3.

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.
• 🌱 Lifelong Active Habits — Children who have joyful physical experiences in the preschool years are dramatically more likely to be active adolescents and adults — making every positive movement experience an investment in lifelong health.
• 🏃 Gross Motor Skills — Running, jumping, hopping, and climbing build the large muscle strength, coordination, and body control that physical activities, sports, and even handwriting readiness depend on.
• 🧭 Spatial Awareness — Moving through and around obstacles, understanding where their body is in space, and following directional instructions develops the spatial body awareness that sports, dance, and coordinated movement require.

Preschool Fitness Videos and DVDs

Preschool videos and DVDs don't necessarily need to turn your child into a couch potato. There are a large variety of videos and DVDs that promote motion and activity. Whether it be lively music and dancing, exercise instruction, or favorite preschool characters in motion, there is certain to be a preschool fitness video or DVD for your child. Below are just a few of the many choices out there.

Move 'N Groove Kids

Run Time: 26 minutes

This video is an excellent way to get your preschooler up and moving! Creators Deborah Damost and Sara Lavan developed the Move 'N Groove Kids video to focus on exercise and creative movement. With a warm-up session, the main workout consisting of various movements, and a cool-down, your child will have an excellent fitness experience. For additional help and fun, a character called Munki joins in! This preschool fitness video is recommended for ages 2 through 7.

Get Fit Kids Vol. 1 - Hustle-Bustle Move Your Muscles!

Run Time: 30 minutes

This lively preschool fitness DVD encourages movement and works to build major muscle groups. With certified personal trainer, Kristi Dear providing instruction, your preschooler will enjoy the songs and movements - and you'll watch your child improve coordination and become more fit. The video also introduces children to the muscles and how they work. Of course, no workout would be complete without Kristi's animated companion, JoJo Fitz!

Fun With Dance

Run Time: 30 minutes

From the Amazon.com product description: "Take a journey through the wonderful world of dance! Fun with Dance introduces toddlers to movement and dance. By viewing the movements of puppets, animals, dancers and other children, your child will be able to look, learn and have fun! Fun With Dance promotes learning and creativity by exposing your child to movements and encouraging imitation, by building your child's motor skills and body-brain relationship introducing your child to the art form of dance."

Sesame Street - Happy Healthy Monsters

Run time: 45 minutes

Sesame Street characters always keep the energy moving, and this preschool fitness video is no exception! Grover hosts an exercise show called "Fuzzy, Blue and Healthy, Too" -- where Elmo and Zoe learn more about eating well and the value of moving their body and sleeping well for overall health. Guest stars include Andy Richter, Fred Willard, Wyclef Jean and India Arie. Recommended for ages 2-4.

Go! Exercise With the Teletubbies

Run Time: 70 minutes

From the Amazon.com product description: "Exercise is important for children and exercise is fun! Skip with Laa-Laa, dance with Dipsy, march with Tinky Winky and crawl with Po in this fun and funny interactive video. Join in activities such as Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, jumping up and down, standing on one leg, side to side and more!"

Sesame Street - Zoe's Dance Moves

Run Time: 40 minutes

From the back cover synopsis: "Get ready to dance! It's a toe-tapping, finger-snapping good time when Paula Abdul gives Zoe her very first dance lesson! Soon Sesame Street's favorite ballerina is learning how to step with pep in a ballet warm-up, get the beat in her feet from an African drum, be grand with her hands in an Asian dance, and just have fun with Zoe's own Silly Willy Nilly dance. And, that's not all! When Zoe's best friend Elmo joins in, everyone moves and grooves to a hip-hop, feel-good finale that will get you up and dancing