Fun Indoor and Outdoor Preschool PE Games and Activities

Physical education is essential for a healthy mind and body. Only when the body is fit will the mind be creative. Children love playing games. And hence, encouragement through physical training is certainly a plus.

Starting the day with a few warm-up games or physical activities is the best way to make the kindergartners active and running. This elevates their spirits and syncs them with their health.

Moreover, it is a way of inculcating the habit of regular exercise into the growing kids.

Most of the countries have come forward to make physical education a mandatory component of the education system. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recommended at least an hour of physical activity to growing kids for a healthy mind, fitness, and to do away with the sedentary lifestyle.

Place varicolored threads on table. Ask the students to select two threads of the color whose name starts with the same letter as the student's name. They tie the two threads together in as many knots as possible for 2 minutes. Then, they try to untie the knots. This game is most effective when both the threads are of the same color, thus causing confusion.

Place the benches on blue-colored plastic carpets. Benches are land and floor and carpets are ocean. Divide the students into smaller groups. Let a group of students stand on the bench. Explain to the students that they should arrange themselves in the alphabetical order of their first names, and not come in any contact with the ocean or the floor.

Assign a color to each student. Release multi-colored balloons in the room. Ask them to fetch the balloon which is of the assigned color. Instruct the students that the tie should not be let loose until both the partners find their respective balloons.

The students should do the corresponding gesture or action. Any student doing the wrong gesture for a particular number will lose a point in the game.

Once stopped, they should freeze. That is they should remain still and not move an inch. Those who move will lose. Turning on the music again, the kids should resume dancing.

Similarly, if you say '1 Jump' they have to jump only once. Keep varying the number of jumps so that the students get exercised through this activity.

On the count of 3, let the students run towards the opposite side wall enacting the animal they thought of. If they start before the count is complete, they should be asked to walk backwards as a forfeit.

Choose a student to start the activity. He has to decide an activity which starts with the same letter as his name. For a student named Jack, the activity can be jumping. Jack shouts 'Jumping Jack' aloud and begins to jump. Other students follow Jack. This is a follow-the-lead type of activity which can be seen as a great warm-up game for the preschoolers.

Out of all the students in the class, 3 will be made to act as cats and the remaining students will act as rats. The rats will have a tucked-in tail and the cats have to be quick on their feet, and chase the rats.

Once any cat pulls out a rat's tail, the rat has to leave the game. Once all the tails have been pulled out, the game is over and can be started afresh with any 3 new students being the cats.

Make groups of two students each. Give them two balls. On your count of 3, they must throw these balls at each other. If the ball hits the opponent, it means one point. The maximum number of hits decides the winner for this game. This activity is mainly targeted at improving the aim of the player.

A student is made the lead and rest all are runners. The lead has to chase the runners. When a certain runner is chased by the lead, they must join one hand to form a chain.

They in turn form a new group and must now start chasing the remaining players. The chain keeps elongating as the number of chased runners increases. However, it is important to keep the chain strong during the game.

Physical activities are a great way to remain healthy and keep a check on childhood obesity. Group activities motivate the kindergartners to exercise wholeheartedly. And in this way, the students unknowingly enjoy their silent workout.