Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health

As children’s first teachers, parents and caregivers play a vital role in supporting their children’s healthy development. While it may sound like a big task, the first step is simple: incorporate developmentally appropriate activities into your daily routines!

Using Play to Support Children’s Physical Health

According to the DAP series created by Trying Together, children’s early experiences play a critical role in their physical development. To best support growth, children need:

• Access to fresh, healthy foods to receive the proper nutrition they need to grow;

• At least one to two hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity or active play daily, depending on age;

• Caring and supporting relationships with others in environments that don’t impose high stress and;

• Regular health screenings and wellness exams to monitor healthy growth and development.

Play promotes healthy physical development by enhancing gross motor skills, like running, jumping, and climbing, which proves crucial for coordination, balance, and strength. Additionally, engaging in physical activities at a young age creates a strong foundation for maintaining an active lifestyle throughout life, leading to better physical fitness in the long run.

Engaging in physical play is beneficial for cognitive development in children. It stimulates their brains, promotes the growth of neural connections, and enhances cognitive abilities. Active play also helps develop problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and executive functions, such as planning, decision-making, and self-control.

Engaging in physical play is essential for a child's physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. It allows children to learn vital skills such as interacting with peers, cooperating, taking turns, and negotiating. These skills, in turn, help foster social skills and empathy.

Educators and caregivers can support the overall development of children by incorporating physical play into their practices. The infusion of both of these things helps children thrive physically, cognitively, and socially. Regular opportunities for active play are essential, and it's crucial to prioritize this aspect to ensure children can access the benefits of an active lifestyle from a young age.

This resource is available as a printable PDF (English) (Español).

To learn more about DAP and play, visit Trying Together’s Developmentally Appropriate Practices webpage.

Photo Credit: Crystal Joy Photography