Picture a toddler crawling toward his favorite stuffed animal, or a little girl climbing the jungle gym at recess – when you think about it, physical play is one of the most memorable aspects of childhood.
Active play is critical for kids’ physical development. It helps children hone their coordination, balance, gross-motor skills (large movements like crawling and walking) and fine-motor skills (smaller movements like picking objects up).
There’s tons of research about the health benefits of living an active lifestyle, and the same is true for our children. Research has shown that physically active kids tend to be leaner and healthier, while an inactive childhood can lead to a sedentary lifestyle in adulthood.
Plus, physical play helps children use up their natural stores of energy (a must!), and promotes better eating and sleeping habits.
Encouraging healthy habits that your child can carry through to adulthood? That’s the genius of play!