We know how much you enjoy your play sessions at Gambado - physical activity is an essential part of keeping well for all of us, both young and old, and during the pandemic, it's not always been possible to access some of the play and physical activity sessions that you might have been previously enjoying.

There is so much evidence that regular activity gives our children a great start in life - short term benefits as well as long term habits that will keep them healthy as they grow up.

There is of course the physical fitness that play allows them to build, but importantly, physical activity helps with mental well-being and immunity. By helping them to improve coordination, get stronger muscles and bones and increase their energy levels with regular physical activity and play, you are also helping them to be happy - exercise reduces stress, and even children in the current times can feel the effects of what is going on around them.

Activities centred around play which incorporate physical activity with a sense of fun, and which are suitable for the child's stage of development, play an essential role in our childrens' health.

Ideas for Physical Activity for Children

So while we are closed, we thought it would be a great idea to suggest a few activities you can do at home with your toddlers, pre-schoolers and primary school children. Here are 5 great ideas from the folks over at playworld: 

1. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
Great fun for toddlers’ physical development with no equipment necessary, and of course it can be done inside! Children sit facing a partner with feet touching. They hold hands and lean forward and backward while singing the classic, “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”

2. Musical Hide and Seek
Play music from your phone and hide it from the children. You and the children can then search together to figure out where the music is coming from. This will be fun for the kids and will get them moving.

3. Build a Tower
Get a supply of blocks, containers with lids, or other similar, stackable objects. Take turns to build a tower with your child - see how high the child can stack them. You can count the number of stacked items together, and then when the tower is complete, the child can knock it down. What fun!

4. Toss Balls in a Basket
Give the children foam or rubber balls to roll back and forth to a partner. Older children can toss the balls into a basket. During this activity, be careful with younger children who might bite foam balls. Avoid small balls that toddlers could put in their mouths and swallow.

You can read the full article here

The benefits of active play

We can't wait to open again and see you for some amazing play sessions and lots of physical activities that your children can enjoy. The benefits of physical play activity are many:

• Develops motor skills, balance and physical coordination
• Builds strong bones 
• Helps develop strength, endurance, and flexibility
• Develops confidence and belief in their own abilities
• Helps with maintaining a healthy weight
• Helps to manage stress
• Gives them great social skills and improves their concentration
• Improves quality of sleep

For the last point alone, we are all for plenty of physical activity for children!

Stay in touch - sign up for updates on when we will be open again