Activities for 5 year old boys: 25 Engaging Activities For 5-Year-Olds

25 Engaging Activities For 5-Year-Olds

When I think about five-year-olds, I think about the world of imagination and endlessly learning possibilities- where the impossible is possible, and there are no limits and boundaries. Five-year-olds are eager to learn, help, and do. They are on the go from morning till night, so they need plenty of short activities to keep them entertained. We’ve compiled a list of 25 engaging activities, so dive right in and remember to have fun!

1. Play With Your Food

Kids are always told, “Don’t play with your food.” Well, in this activity, we are going to do just that! Ever heard of Rainbow Toast?  Children will have edible paint and some toast and can let their imaginations go wild as they paint a rainbow. Afterward, they can enjoy an edible treat! 

Learn More: Holley Grainger

2. Cookie Merger

Hundreds of years ago, Othello was first played with black and white stones in Japan. The game’s object is to enclose the opposite color so it can be flipped over. This time we are using black and white sandwich cookies in a fast-paced game with a twist.

Learn More: Kids Activities Blog

3. Got Cups?

Plastic cups can be so much fun if you know what to do with them. Cup activities go far beyond just stacking them up. From bowling, ping pong, sorting, or drawing, plastic cup activities win hands down. Kids have big red plastic cups and small squares of construction paper, and the aim is to try and build the tallest tower. 

Learn More: Pickle Bums

4. Egg Carton Planting

Little ones like the experience and idea of gardening, but many do not like all the hassle it entails. Children can have lots of fun in the classroom with egg carton plants. They can simply fill a carton with soil, plant the seed, water it, and watch it grow. 

Learn More: Revolution Foods

5. Ants Go Marching

Ants are so interesting to learn about, and with this fantastic craft, children can make their own red and black ants out of spoons! Connect assorted spoons and paint them red or black. Glue on some googly eyes and pipe cleaner legs, and your ants are ready for marching! 

Learn More: Danielle’s Place

6. Junk In Your Trunk

This game takes a little bit of investment, but it is well worth it. All you need is some tissue boxes, ping pong balls, and a few other odds and ends. The game’s objective is to get all the balls out of the tissue box as fast as possible. Shake, jiggle and move to get your “junk out of your trunk.”

Learn More: JCTV Family Vlog

7. Shhh, It’s Quiet Time

Children need downtime, and to create the best chill time for your kindergartener, you need to create the right atmosphere. Healthy music, low lights or soft lighting, crayons and paper, soft toys, and comfortable seating do wonder! 

Learn More: Families In Schools

8. Bean Bag Fun 

Bean bags are so easy to make, and they are essential in child development. Practice the art of balancing by getting your little ones to balance bean bags on different body parts. There are so many games that can be played with bean bags; whether it’s a tossing or spatial activity, your learners are sure to have a good time! 

Learn More: Empowered Parents

9. Inventive Activity Cards 

Five-year-olds are full of imagination, and we have to help nurture their literary skills and public speaking. One great idea to help you do this is picture cards that can be bought or made. Children lay a few of the cards on the table and then tell us a simple story step by step. 

Learn More: Tinker Lab

10. Scavenger Hunt For Beginner Readers

Using cards with simple instructions and some picture cards, pupils can work together and solve the puzzles to discover the treasure. Hide items in the playground or classroom for learners to search for.  

Learn More: The Spruce

11. Lego Charades 

This is a fantastic game! Each child gets a picture to recreate using Lego blocks. The other children will guess what they are building as they create. It seems complicated, but it works really well, and your little ones will love the interactive guessing part! 

Learn More: Big Family Blessings

12. Musical Moves

This is an adorable, kid-friendly YouTube exercise video with easy exercise moves. All your little ones need to do is listen to the instructions and follow along. Exercise is important for everyone’s health; if you start young, your students will have good habits!

Learn More: Monica Flores Fitness

13. Paper Plate Snowman

Snowmen crafts are fantastic Winter makes! Make a paper plate snowman using paper plates, glue, and googly eyes. Print out the body parts before cutting them out and assembling the body. 

Learn More: Simple Everyday Mom

14. Learn With The Gruffalo 

To teach reading, kids need to know how to decipher rhyme. The Gruffalo is a funny tale to help with rhyming, and children can then invent their own crazy animals like a COG or a SNOG! 

Learn More: Deanna Jump

15. STEM Paper Airplanes

Paper Airplanes can be challenging to make, but with the right instructions, you have a great educational STEM project! All your learners need is some paper, crayons to decorate their finished product and a whole lot of patience! 

Learn More: Engineering Emily

16. BIG or PIG 

5-Year-olds are at the age where they are beginning to read. This website is great for practicing blending words and developing pre-reading skills that will improve your child’s phonological awareness. 

Learn More: Education.com

17. Bed Of Roses

Make a beautiful bouquet of roses using play dough! They are truly beautiful and easy to make. Start with a few small pieces of playdough or clay – rolling them into small balls and then into oval shapes before pressing the pieces together and forming flowers. 

Learn More: Krokotak

18. Twister

There is something exciting about being entangled with your friends! Time to take off your shoes and stretch a little. Challenge your learners to keep their balance as you spin the instruction wheel and have your students follow the prompts by placing their body parts on the mat. 

Learn More: Little Learning Corner

19. Obstacle Course

Use some yarn and other household items you have lying around the house to create an awesome obstacle course. Get your little ones involved in designing and setting up their very own obstacle course before maneuvering through it for hours! 

Learn More: Life Family Fun

20. Cotton Ball Balancing 

This is an awesome activity to practice balance if you have a few teaspoons and cotton balls lying around. Place a cotton ball on the spoon and have your learners race from one end of the classroom to the other without dropping their cotton balls.

Learn More: A Mom’s Take

21. Full Of Beans

Set up a sensory bin using assorted beans. Kids will love the sensation of running their fingers through the beans and enjoying the texture. They can use containers to pour the beans from one box into another or even practice their math skills by counting out a given number. 

Learn More: Bounce Back Parenting

22. Hot Potato Balloon Game

Hot potato entails moving extremely fast. Blow up a balloon and have your learners stand in a circle. The object of the game is to keep the balloon in the air and not hold onto it for too long. 

Learn More: Empowered Parents

23. Simon Says

Simon says is an awesome opportunity to practice listening skills. Learners can play by following the instructions called out by “Simon.” If an instruction is given without the words “Simon says…”, the learners who complete the action are out. 

Learn More: Patty Shukla Kids TV – Children’s songs

24. Dice Game

Moo like a cow, jump like a rabbit, sing like a bird- all of these options and more can be played in an animal activity dice game. Roll the die and follow the instructions written on a piece of paper. Make sure your learners have plenty of space to move around in.

Learn More: Twitchetts

25. Horse 

Using smaller basketball nets and softballs, children can play this great classic game. The object of the game is to shoot the ball into the basket from different positions.   If you miss after three tries, you get an H, and so on. Once you have the word HORSE spelled out in full, you’re eliminated from play. 

Learn More: Rookie Road

51 Fun Activities for 5 Year Olds for All-Around Development

When it comes to the most impactful activities for kids, learning-based initiatives offer the most value. Kids can joyfully participate in learning activities for hours on end while absorbing knowledge practically over experiments, hands-on playtime, and active problem-solving. Let’s explore some of the best learning activities for 5 year olds that spark creative thinking and curiosity.

The Best Indoor Activities for 5 Year Olds You Can Play Now

1. Math Worksheets

Things you’ll need: Template

You can print out math worksheets from SplashLearn for your 5 year old and have them solve word problems, addition and number sense questions, and more.

Skills learned: Core math concepts, 

2. Count By Skipping 1, 2, 3s

Things you’ll need: Worksheets and a pencil or pen

Having your child count out loud by skipping every second, third, or fourth number can be a fun learning activity. To make the activity more challenging, you could make your child skip by higher numbers.

Skills learned: Mental calculation

3. Solving A Paper Maze

Things you’ll need: Stationery

This learning activity for 5 year olds can be set up by drawing a giant maze on a sheet of paper. They can pretend to be a hero trying to save a prince who is trapped at the end of the maze.

Skills learned: Memory, problem-solving

4. Writing Imaginary Letters

Things you’ll need: Stationery

Kids can write imaginary letters to Harry Potter, Santa Claus, and other figures, asking them very specific questions on unique topics.

Skills learned: Comprehension, creativity

5. Let’s Make A Story

Things you’ll need: Toys, books, props

Kids can develop rich stories using toys, torches, shadow play, blankets, and other cool props.

Skills learned: Creative thinking

6. Puzzle-Based Treasure Hunt

Things you’ll need: Stationery

You can make a treasure hunt activity for kids by testing their ability to think on the spot and find the next clue.

Skills learned: Problem-solving

7. Journalling The Day & Feelings

Things you’ll need: A notebook or diary and a pen or pencil

One of the most wholesome indoor activities for 5 year olds is journaling, as it allows for quiet time, self-reflection, and intuitive thinking.

Skills learned: Introspection

8. Time for a Fashion Show

Things you’ll need: Dresses, blankets

Children can drape pillowcases, blankets, and sheets around them to create gowns and various outfits. They can then put on a fashion show for the grown-ups.

Skills learned: Creative application, confidence

9. Finding the Pairing Word

Things you’ll need: Cutouts, word list

You can cut out pairs of words, such as painting, color-ing, school-bus, etc. , and have your kids match the pairs.

Skills learned: English comprehension

10. Home Instruments

Things you’ll need: Household objects

Pots, pans, boxes, and jars can be turned into musical instruments to strengthen creative thinking and self-expression.

Skills learned: Musical ability

Related Reading: Indoor Games For Kids that Improve Memory, Cognition, & Creativity

Improve Problem-Solving & Motor Skills With Outdoor Activities

11. Follow The Story Map

Things you’ll need: Map template, puzzles,

Kids can find pieces of a map and follow the story to find clues about their next sets of pieces. Once the map is complete, they can discover a valuable prize.

Skills learned: Problem solving

12. Making An Ocean In A Pool

Things you’ll need: Inflatable pool, toys

You can have your kids make a mini ocean ecosystem in an inflatable pool. They can add whales, sharks, fish, underwater plants, etc., to make it unique and interesting.

Skills learned: Biology

13. How Big Is Your Cardboard Fort?

Things you’ll need: Cardboard boxes, tape, and stationery

Engineering-based educational activities for 5 year olds can be immersive for young ones who love building things. You can provide a template, use old boxes for fort making, and have them personalize the decor and exterior.

Skills learned: Basic engineering

14. Sandbox Castles

Things you’ll need: Sand buckets, shovels

Kids can make sandcastles of varying sizes through active problem solving by interacting with the sand material.

Skills learned: Shape manipulation

15. Watch Me Grow!

Things you’ll need: Mud, pot, seed

You can teach the basics of germination by planting seeds in cotton and placing them in a pot of mud. These biology-based fun activities for 5 year olds can be fulfilling in multifaceted ways.

Skills learned: Biology

16. Planting A Tomato Garden

Things you’ll need: Pot, mud, tomato seeds, shade

A tomato garden is one of the most perfect outdoor activities for 5 year olds who enjoy being in nature. It not only means spending time outdoors and working with their own hands but has the added bonus of watching the plant grow and bear fruit! They can get something substantial to hold or even eat as a reward for their efforts.

Skills learned: Biology, gardening, and taking care of a plant

17. Obstacle Jumps

Things you’ll need: Boxes, pillows, ropes

By jumping over obstacles, your kids can strengthen their vision and body control skills. This is one of the best activities for 5 year olds to do at home and is super easy for you to set up as well.

Skills learned: Coordination, agility

Related Reading: Best Outdoor Games for Kids of All Ages

Art & Craft Activities for Kids To Bring Out Their Creativity

18. What Does Your Zoo Look Like?

Things you’ll need: Stationery, animal toys

Kids can fully explore different ideas on how they would design a zoo from scratch. They can draw fences, place toy animals, and make hot dog stands to create a fun-filled experience.

Skills learned: Creative thinking, problem-solving

19. Making Expressions

Things you’ll need: Template, stationery

To strengthen social skills development, you can have kids fill out a blank face with the appropriate expressions for sad, angry, happy, curious, etc.

Skills learned: Self-expression

20. It’s Time For Dessert!

Things you’ll need: M&M’s, ice cream, wafers, sprinkles

Kids can make theme-based desserts, such as winter, Star Wars, Harry Potter, or summer. A cooking and baking-themed activity for 5 year olds is a great weekend project for curious kids.

Skills learned: Cooking, baking

21. Making A DIY Coin Box

Things you’ll need: Box, stationery, crayons

Kids can make their own coin box out of cardboard and seal it up with tape and glue. They can keep adding coins to it and intuitively grasp the concept of saving.

Skills learned: Creativity, money saving

22. How Cool Is Your Dress?

Things you’ll need: Stationery

Your 5 year old can design whacky, creative, and cool dresses for themselves with chart paper, frills, sequins, glitter, and other creative tools.  

Skills learned: Creative thinking

23. Writing A Permanent Message

Things you’ll need: Stationery

This type of learning activity for 5 year olds involves decorating garden rocks with colors and shapes and writing a positive message that stands as a loving reminder.

Skills learned: Optimism

24. Let’s Make A Clock

Things you’ll need: Paper plate, pins, and stationery

You can have your kids make a clock face and hands and have them tell the time by turning the hands around a fixed central pin.

Skills learned: Concept interpretation

25. It’s Time for Origami!

Things you’ll need: Instruction sheet, paper

You can create birds, animals, houses, and other interesting objects in origami with which uses only paper folding. It is ia great activity to teach precision and alignment while inspiring creativity.

Skills learned: Creativity

26. Making A Month-Based Card

Things you’ll need: Stationery

Your little ones can make greeting cards celebrating what’s special about the month they’re in. For example, October can focus on Halloween, changing weather, etc.

Skills learned: Comprehension, creative thinking

27. Making A DIY Guitar

Things you’ll need: Shoebox, rubber bands, scissors

You can cut a hole in the middle of a shoebox and strap rubber bands around its length. You can pluck the bands near the hole and create unique sounds.

Skills learned: Musical skills

Developmental Activities for 5 Year Olds: Let’s Explore the World!

28. Playing Development Games

Things you’ll need: Smart device

Kids can play educational games to learn English and math skills while going on journeys with interesting characters.

Skills Learned: Active learning, English, math

29. Will It Float?

Things you’ll need: Bucket, various objects to test

A bucket and some cork, plastic, balloons, and other objects can teach your children about floating and sinking.

Skills learned: Buoyancy of certain objects

30. The Role Of Oxidation

Things you’ll need: Few apples, a fork or knife, and a magnifying glass

You can place apple slices that are cut at different intervals to test for brownness and oxidation.

Skills learned: Chemistry

31. Sorting Objects

Things you’ll need: Distinct objects

Sorting activities and organizing games or tasks are really fun for 5-year-olds and can be done with different tyoes of shapes and different themes of objects.

Skills learned: Pattern detection

32. Science Experiments

Things you’ll need: Depends on the chosen experiment

Interesting science experiments for kids, such as balloon cars, flying tea bags, and glitter repellants can be a great learning activity for 5-year-olds.

Skills learned: Chemistry/physics

33. Jigsaw Puzzles

Things you’ll need: Age-based puzzle games for kids

Jigsaw puzzles can be essential for cognition, pattern detection, and problem solving.  

Skills learned: Spatial understanding

34. Memory Tray Activities

Things you’ll need: A tray with objects placed on it

You can present a tray of toys and objects, and have your 5 year old remember and recall these items after 10 seconds of viewing.

Skills learned: Memory recall

Related Readings: How to Nurture Growth Mindset for Kids: A Complete Guide

Sensory Activities for Improving Coordination and Pattern Recognition

35. Finger Painting

Things you’ll need: Paint, paper sheets, and soap

Finger painting on new textures, such as cardboard boxes, paper, leaves, etc., will create unique experiences for 5 year olds.

Skills learned: Color and shape recognition

Alt text: A child finger painting a cardboard box

Image source 

36. Art With Seeds

Things you’ll need: Template, seeds, grains

This sensory-based activity involves handling seeds and grains of different colors and textures to create works of art.

Skills learned: Color analysis, sensing

37. Playdough Animal Molding

Things you’ll need: Playdough, template cutter

Kids can make animals, birds, structures, and other interesting things with playdough. You can have them structure their designs with templates, cutters, and prompts.

Skills learned: Object manipulation, sensing

38. What’s That Sensation?

Things you’ll need: Objects that are at various temperatures or sport different textures 

You can have your 5 year old describe different sensations by touching objects that are warm, cold, slimy, gooey, stringy, etc.

Skills learned: Touch-based differentiation, recall

39. Auditory Sensory Tubes

Things you’ll need: Paper towel roll, different objects

Using a cardboard roll of a paper towel, you can pass rice, grains, small toys, and other objects through to teach kids about the different sounds they make. These sensory activities for 5 year olds can help them understand the world of sounds better.

Skills learned: Auditory differentiation

40. Tasting Flavors And Textures

Things you’ll need: Different flavored foods

You can fill a plate with foods of various categories, both sweet and savory. For example, a candy would work for a sweet taste, lemons for sour, kale or arugula for bitter, fries for salty, broth or a cooked mushroom for savory, etc.

Skills learned: Taste differentiation, recall

41. The Sounds Of Water Levels

Things you’ll need: Glass, water, spoon

You can fill up four glasses of water at varying levels and strike a spoon gently to produce sounds. Kids can instinctively learn about how the water levels impact the pitch of the sound produced.

Skills learned: Pitch differences

Related Reading: Painting Ideas Kids Can Have Fun With & Easily Pull Off="https:>

Fine Motor Activities for 5 Year Olds for Hands-on Fun

42. LEGO-Based City Landscapes

Things you’ll need: LEGO blocks

City planning is one of many fun activities for kids which is also immensely rewarding. Kids can create a city or neighborhood, highlighting specific monuments with blocks.

Skills learned: Engineering, architecture 

43. What’s In The Box?

Things you’ll need: Shoe box, toys

You can place objects of different textures inside an empty box and have your 5 year old guess what’s inside.

Skills Learned: Memory, object identification 

44. Pasta Necklaces

Things you’ll need: Pasta, thread, colors

Coloring individual pieces of pasta and threading them to form a necklace can be one of the simplest fine motor learning activities for 5 year olds.

Skills Learned: Hand​​–eye coordination

45. Searching In A Toy Chest

Things you’ll need: Toy chest, diverse toys

Kids can hunt for a specific toy by using their vision, sensory touch, and sound experiences to find the right one.

Skills Learned: Multisensory learning

46. Let’s Thread Some Beads Together!

Things you’ll need: Thread, beads

By threading beads, kids can improve their hand–eye coordination and focus skills. This is also a great activity for budding artists and creative thinkers.

Skills learned: Focus development

47. Shape Replicating

A great activity to enhance your child’s fine motor skills is to have them replicate different items, such as trees, school buses, and buildings, through basic blocks and elementary shapes.

Things you’ll need: Blocks, templates

Skills learned: Object parameter detection

48. Different-Sized Words

You can ask your kids to write common words in larger sizes to strengthen their ability to comprehend scaling.

Things you’ll need: Stationery

Skills learned: Scale comprehension

49. Time For Paper Snowflakes!

Things you’ll need: Paper, safety scissors, and maybe some glitter to make it fun

You can make paper snowflakes by folding around the edges and cutting out various shapes. These crafts activities for kids can help teach certain fine motor skills, as kids would need to hold scissors carefully and make precise cuts.

Skills learned: Attention to detail, coloring & shading, and other arts & crafts skills, 

Paper Snowflakes #02 – Easy Paper Snowflakes – How to make Snowflakes out of paper

Video source 

50. Tripod Finger Exercises

Things you’ll need: Pencil

You can have your kids practice pencil holding, chopstick holding, and forming letters with fingers to improve their finger agility.

Skills learned: Dexterity

51. Paper Folding

Things you’ll need: Paper

For kids who are weaker in hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, they can fold a sheet of paper into smaller and smaller sizes to strengthen their finger strength.

Skills learned: Finger strength, hand-eye, coordination

Related Reading: Creative Ways to Keep Your Child Learning This Summer

What Are Some of the Questions to Ask before Choosing Learning Activities?

Here are some of the main questions you can ask yourself before introducing a new activity to kids.

1. What area of learning is this activity going to impact?

2. What types of tools and props will I need to facilitate the activity?

3. What prompts should I provide to help my child through the activity?

4. Should I collaborate with my child or let them independently figure out the solution?

5. What senses am I strengthening when participating in specific activities?

When you pin down the answers to these questions across all activities, you can make them more impactful and learning-oriented when introducing them. You can also ask your kids about the activities they enjoy most and build upon those foundations.

Why Are Learning Activities Important for 5 Year Olds?

There are multiple ways to approach learning activities for 5 year olds, especially if we want to help strengthen the areas with which a child struggles. By making the activity collaborative in nature, we can improve their sense of creative thinking without fear of making errors or embarrassment.

The importance of learning activities is also highlighted when we see their eyes light up as they solve problems of varying skill levels. Kids are naturally curious about the world and want to explore all aspects of their surroundings through cognitive and motor skills. By introducing the right learning activities, kids can remain active and engaged throughout the day. 

Related Reading: Creative Indoor Activities for Kids to Have Some No-Screen Fun

Let’s Conclude

Now that we’ve explored all areas of learning activities for kids, we can start introducing these activities over time. By starting with areas of keen interest, you can shape how kids play and participate in different activities. Adding new props, experiments, technologies, and activities will make them enjoy active learning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you make learning fun for kids?

You can make learning more fun for kids by integrating multiple types of sensory activities, different stimuli, and different forms of teaching to keep kids engaged.

How do I keep my 5 year old busy at home?

Learning activities, educational gaming platforms, storytelling, watching a play or even helping them put on a play can be enriching experiences for 5 year olds at home.

What types of learning activities can be played with multiple kids?

Both indoor activities and crafts-based activities can be played with multiple kids for endless learning.

What are the benefits of sensory play for 5 year olds?

Sensory play develops motor skills such as lifting, grabbing, dumping, and object manipulating.

Kinds of sports for children – what kind of sport to give the child to

Every year new sports sections are opened in Russia, where numerous kinds of sports for children are presented and this is no coincidence. According to statistics, every fourth child in our country by the age of 10 tends to develop chronic diseases against the backdrop of an unhealthy lifestyle.

To avoid diseases such as obesity, diabetes and spinal diseases, doctors recommend involving children in sports from an early age. It can be family trips, active games, field trips or regular visits to sports sections.

What kind of sport to send the child to

Thinking about what sport to send the child to, few parents are aware that this choice should take into account not only the age of the baby, but also his individual characteristics. Often, having given a child to a sports section, parents later regret their choice, because the child simply refuses to study and does not want to attend a sports club.

To prevent this from happening, you need to choose a sport for a child in accordance with the temperament of the baby:

• Sanguine. These kids love to be leaders. They need praise and victory. Such children are best suited for active sports. Any speed-strength disciplines can be an excellent choice;
• Cholerics. These kids are emotional and also ready to work in a team. They will be comfortable with cyclic sports or martial arts;
• Phlegmatic. Toddlers with this character do an excellent job with multiple repetitions of one action. This means that the best choice for them will be cyclic or complex-coordinating disciplines;
• Melancholy. For them, the severity of the coach and Spartan conditions are unacceptable. With the right approach, such kids can show success in fencing or shooting. Intellectual pursuits can also be an excellent choice for them.

To determine which section is right for your child, you can take a specialized test. Testing will help determine goals and objectives, find out what character the baby has and choose for him exactly the circle in which he will feel comfortable.

Important! Before enrolling in a section, you need to get advice from the local pediatrician. Some disciplines have absolute contraindications. In addition, you will have to pass tests and undergo examinations by narrow specialists.

Sports for preschoolers

Sports for young children are activities that develop basic physical skills and strengthen the immune system. Don’t expect a two-year-old to become a champion right away.

Sports for preschool children are necessary for the overall development and preparation of the child for more serious activities. Doctors consider 4-5 years old to be the ideal age to start classes. But if the baby is active and healthy, classes in certain disciplines can be started as early as two years old.

Most parents believe that at this age it is too early to attend sports sections, and the only option for physical training is swimming in the pool. But this is absolutely not true. Today, many circles invite kids of very young age, where specially trained trainers work with them.

Sports for children from 2 years old

From the age of two, babies need more physical activity. They run, jump, somersault and fall everywhere. And so that their pranks do not turn into serious injuries, parents should think about structured physical activity.

Adequate physical activity at this age – classes at least 2 times a week for 30 minutes. With age, the number of hours of classes gradually increases and by the age of 5 it can be 2 hours 3 times a week.

Training for the little ones is not full-fledged training with competitions and victories. At this time, training is based on the principle of the game. The kid will run, jump, have fun, learn the simplest exercises and perform elementary tasks.

Ideal sports for children aged 2+:

• Swimming;
• Dancing;
• Gymnastics;
• balance bike;
• Children’s yoga;
• Trampolining.

At this age, it is still very difficult for a baby to remain without a mother or father, so it is absolutely impossible to leave him alone among people he does not know, you will have to work with him. Moreover, you will have to perform all the exercises with the baby, because he will repeat exactly for you.

At the age of 3-4, the baby can already perform more complex exercises and understand the requirements of the trainer. It is this age that is considered optimal for starting classes.

The following sections are already available at this time:

• Skis;
• Martial arts;
• Tennis or table tennis;
• Golf;
• Roller skates;
• Figure skating.

If you are afraid to send your baby to these sections at such a young age, pay attention to developing centers with a sports bias. In such centers, general developmental classes include physical education lessons, where trainers teach the smallest physical exercises in a playful way.

Reference: From the age of two, babies experience an active leap in growth and development. Optimal loads will help to properly form muscle mass and the musculoskeletal system, which will further protect them from health problems.

What kind of sport to give a child 5 – 6 years old

Children who have reached the age of five are already absolutely ready for classes in the sports section. This is exactly the age when a young athlete begins to understand the meaning of a team game, adequately perceive criticism from the coach and fulfill his requirements.

If you are wondering what kind of sport to give your child 5-6 years old, team sports can be an excellent choice, these include:

• Football;
• Hockey;
• Water polo;
• Golf;
• Rugby;
• Tennis;
• Volleyball;
• Basketball;
• Badminton;
• Handball etc.

At preschool age, training should be moderate. A growing body can react negatively to increased stress, and then instead of benefiting, classes will only bring health problems. If, while watching a preschooler, you notice that he began to sleep poorly, is often naughty and gets tired quickly, talk to the trainer about reducing the load or change the section.

Reference: According to statistics, children who study in sections from the age of 5 have strong immunity, are more diligent in the classroom, are disciplined and learn the school curriculum better in the lower grades. In high school, they also excel academically and are less likely to be influenced by bad company.

Sports for children of school age

School age is the time to learn about sports. In many schools, sections are open where children can study with classmates. Also for children there are circles in the homes of schoolchildren, where classes are held completely free of charge. In addition, students can go to the section from specialized sports schools, where they prepare for admission to sports boarding schools.

The choice of sports for school children is really great. Already in the first grade, children can practice at a professional level, preparing for a sports career. Thanks to the national program “Sport is the norm of life”, dozens of sports facilities are planned to be built throughout the country to attract schoolchildren to a healthy lifestyle until 2024.

Sports for children aged 7-10

Primary school is a period of serious restructuring in the rhythm of life. Often, children in the first years of schooling suffer from overwork and distracted attention. These problems can be easily solved with physical activity. Regular classes increase endurance and performance, contribute to the assimilation of the curriculum and help the student to develop comprehensively.

Sports for children 7-10 years old – these are almost all sections, with the exception of extreme ones with a high risk of injury. The choice of a section depends on many factors, but the main thing here should be the desire of the child himself, because at this age he can already choose what he likes.

Remarkably, modern children often choose sections that are completely incomprehensible to their parents. For example, girls might decide to go into boxing and boys into weightlifting. But parents do not need to be afraid of such a choice, because history knows many champions who went to the section against the wishes of their parents.

The best choice at this age will be team sports, because the student already understands what a team is and can fully participate in the life of the team.

The most popular clubs at this age:

• For girls – gymnastics, dancing, athletics, figure skating, synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics, volleyball, etc.;
• For boys – football, tennis, basketball, martial arts, hockey, weightlifting, pentathlon, etc.

Whatever sport your child chooses, you should not expect great victories and achievements at this age. At the age of 7-10, children only learn to work in a team and learn the basics of sports discipline. At this stage, it is important that the child likes the classes, and he goes to the section with pleasure.

It is important for parents to understand that a young athlete can change their mind at any time and decide to pursue another discipline. In this case, it is not necessary to force him to attend the section, it is necessary to support him and show that he has the right to independently decide what kind of sport he should do. If your child has a hard time exercising, consider mind sports such as chess, checkers, or go.

Important! At this age, it is necessary to choose not so much a section as a coach. Only a qualified and experienced children’s coach will be able not only to interest the student, but also to ensure the correct individual training schedule.

Sports for children aged 11-13

From the age of 11, today’s children already consider themselves adults. Many of them choose street sports as their hobby, where they can show their talents.

Outdoor sports for children aged 11-13, these are:

• Breaking;
• Parkour;
• Skateboarding;
• BMX.

In addition, teenagers often choose diving, skydiving, rock climbing, kitesurfing and so on. If your child is already engaged in the sports section, but at this age he decided to change his occupation, do not interfere with him, because modern sports are a great opportunity to learn something new and realize himself, which means that he will be engaged with enthusiasm and pleasure.

Considering unusual sports, you can also offer a teenager such sections as gorodki, lapta or food running, which originated more than 200 years ago and are now gaining their popularity again in Russia.

Parents should know that it is at the age of 11-13 that coaches look at young athletes and choose the most promising ones to attract them to professional sports.

If you have been offered a transfer to a sports school, you need to weigh the pros and cons, because a sports career is often accompanied by injuries and numerous restrictions. But if you see that a teenager wants and can be a professional in his sport, feel free to trust the coach, because in a few years your child may well become an Olympic champion.

Important! When enrolling a teenager in a sports school or a section for professional activities, you must take out sports insurance. Insurance will allow you to receive compensation for injuries in training and competitions. Also, without a policy, athletes are not allowed to compete.

Sport in Russia, as well as a healthy lifestyle in general, is becoming fashionable. More than 80% of Russians under the age of 30 regularly visit gyms and playgrounds, go on outdoor activities and teach children to play sports. Thanks to state support, sports for children are numerous, varied, and most importantly accessible.

One of the priority tasks of the federal project “Sport is the norm of life” is the preparation of a sports reserve, which means that every child involved in sports will be able to practice at the best sports facilities that are already being built throughout the country.

Which section to send the boy to: the best sports for future champions

Many factors influence the health of a child. It is important and proper nutrition, and thoughtful daily routine, and regular walks in the fresh air. One of the most important components can be called physical activity, movement and sports. The choice of sport must be approached responsibly so that the child receives the maximum benefit. Which section to send the boy to, how not to make a mistake and make the right decision? Let’s analyze this question in more detail.

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Content:

• Choosing a sports section: what to consider
  • Body type of a boy
  • Temperament
• What changes await the child
• Which section to send the boy to
  • Figure skating
  • Tennis
  • Swimming
  • Hockey
  • Oriental martial arts
  • Dancing
  • Kickboxing
  • Capoeira
  • Acrobatics
  • Equestrian
• Advice for parents of boys

Choosing a sports section: what to consider

Parents often choose activities for their child based on cost and proximity to home. This is the wrong approach. To achieve a good result, it is necessary to take into account the type of physique of the boy, his interests and desires, features of character and temperament, his health. It would be nice to ask for advice from a pediatrician who will talk about possible contraindications.

Physique of a boy

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In medicine, the Stefko and Ostrovsky scheme is used to describe the main types of body structure. For each of them, you can choose the best sport.

Asthenoid type

Children belonging to it are thin, their muscles are poorly developed. Such a child has a narrow chest and shoulder girdle, thin and long legs. Often you can notice a pronounced stoop, and the shoulder blades protrude outward. The main criterion for such children is psychological comfort, so it is important to pay attention to the selection of a suitable team. Of the sports, volleyball, skiing, fencing, gymnastics, cycling are perfect.

Thoracic type

The physique is harmonious, the shoulders and hips are of equal width, the muscles are of average development, the chest is wide. Such boys are quite active, it will be useful for them to develop endurance, and from sports those where speed is important are suitable. Football, figure skating, capoeira, karting, kayaking – all this will bring maximum benefit.

Muscular type

It is characterized by a wide bone and developed muscles. Children of this type are hardy and distinguished by physical strength. They will show themselves well in wrestling, hockey, mountaineering. Suitable for weightlifting, powerlifting.

Digestive type

Guys of this body type are usually short, have a fairly wide chest and fat deposits. They do not show much activity, are inactive and rather clumsy. For such boys, it is better to choose a shooting or martial arts section. A good choice would be hockey, weightlifting, workout.

Temperament

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Achieving success in sports depends not only on the physique, but also on the character of the child. When choosing classes, temperament must be taken into account. Four types are known:

1. Sanguine people are born leaders. They are fearless, like to take risks, so they must be given the opportunity to show their strength and superiority. Mountaineering, martial arts, rafting, hang gliding are suitable for this.
2. Cholerics are distinguished by increased emotionality. They worry not only for themselves, but also for their comrades, they are able to rejoice in someone else’s victory as their own. Therefore, it is ideal for such guys to select team sports.
3. Phlegmatic people are stubborn, persistent in achieving goals and calm. They endure repetitive actions in training without irritation, therefore they are able to achieve good results in chess, gymnastics, and figure skating.
4. Melancholic is characterized by sensitivity and vulnerability. They are easy to offend, and a strict coach can deprive such children of the desire to study. Such children can succeed in equestrian sports, shooting, dancing.

When choosing a sports section for a boy, also consider the distance from home and other safety parameters. In order not to worry about the child when he goes alone to his destination, and to be able to contact him at any moment, install the application “Where are my children” or buy a children’s smart watch for the athlete!

What changes await the child

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Sport is not only good for physical health. In addition to increasing endurance, increasing strength and other indicators, the boy’s personal qualities also change, which are influenced by various sports:

1. Martial arts help develop patience, learn restraint. The child will be able to choose the right tactics of behavior in different situations and learn to think logically. In addition, the reaction improves, self-confidence and flexibility appear.
2. Team games will teach you how to work together and help develop communication skills. They will be especially useful for a shy child who cannot easily find friends.
3. Creative sports , such as dance or rhythmic gymnastics, will influence the development of artistry, sharpen the sense of rhythm. The body of the child will become more flexible and plastic.
4. Winter sports activities will teach your child to reach their goal, despite the difficulties. They build character and form leadership qualities.

In addition to these qualities, the boy will become more disciplined, learn self-giving and concentration.

Which section to send the boy to

When deciding which section to send the child to, you need to start from his age and physiology. For example, strong loads on the musculoskeletal system for babies under 5 years old are unacceptable. For the first five years of life, a child’s bones are actively formed, and increased training will only harm them. But flexibility can be developed from an early age.

Which sports are preferable at what age:

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Consider the advantages and disadvantages of different sports. This information is necessary to make an informed decision.

Figure skating

This is a speed skating sport related to complex coordination sports.

Benefits:

1. Improves coordination of movements, develops an eye, flexibility appears.
2. The load is distributed over all muscle groups.
3. Immunity is strengthened, the child becomes more resilient and efficient.
4. Useful for cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

Faults:

1. Potential for injury.
2. It’s hard to get to classes with a good coach.
3. Considerable financial costs are required.

Contraindications:

1. Flat feet.
2. Neurological problems.
3. Poor eyesight.
4. Diseases of the lungs.
5. Problems with the vestibular apparatus.

Tennis

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This is a sport played against two players or two teams, each with two members. A tennis player using rackets sends the ball to the side of the opponent, his goal is to prevent the opponent from reflecting the ball on his playing field.

Benefits:

1. Positive effect on the cardiovascular system.
2. Coordination develops, reaction and endurance improve.
3. Low risk of injury.
4. The child learns to choose tactics and strategy.

Drawbacks:

1. Classes can be quite expensive.
2. If the load is distributed incorrectly, there is a risk of developing scoliosis.

Contraindications:

1. Peptic ulcer.
2. Vision problems.
3. Disorders in the work of the musculoskeletal system.

Swimming

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A sport whose essence is to overcome different distances by swimming in the shortest time.

Benefits:

1. Immunity is strengthened.
2. Good rehabilitation for children who have undergone surgery or trauma.
3. Classes prevent spine diseases and colds.
4. Swimming is good for blood circulation.

Disadvantages:

1. Chlorinated water may cause allergic reactions and chronic rhinitis.
2. After the start of systematic studies, colds are likely.

Contraindications:

1. Exacerbation of any chronic disease.
2. Heart disease.
3. Viral diseases.
4. Skin diseases.
5. Kidney problems.
6. Convulsions.

Hockey

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Team sports played with sticks and a ball (or puck) on ice or grass.

Benefits:

1. A sense of balance appears, endurance and coordination are actively developed.
2. Significantly strengthens the immune system and the musculoskeletal system.
3. Positive effect on the nervous system.
4. Education of responsibility, ability to organize oneself, discipline.

Disadvantages:

1. High risk of injury.
2. Good equipment costs a lot of money.

Contraindications:

1. Vision problems.
2. Flat feet.
3. Asthma.
4. Various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
5. Heart disease.

Martial arts

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They are conditionally divided into three groups: Chinese, Japanese and Thai types of martial arts. Chinese martial arts are for the most part self-defense, and the main strategy is to use the opponent’s strength against himself. The most famous are wushu (kungfu), tui shou, sanda.

Japanese martial arts are characterized by the use of throwing techniques and force on the joints. The most famous: jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, aikido.

Thai boxing involves the use of powerful combat blows, so it is recommended to start practicing this sport no earlier than 12 years old.

Benefits:

1. Ability to protect yourself.
2. Active work on oneself, the ability to cope with fears and complexes.
3. Education of courage.
4. Harmonious physical development.

Disadvantages:

1. Success in mastering martial arts depends entirely on the coach, so it is very important and difficult to find a good mentor. It is necessary that the child does not become pugnacious, but learn the basics of Eastern philosophy, on which martial arts are based.
2. There is a small risk of injury.

Contraindications:

1. Disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
2. Vision problems.
3. Diseases of the kidneys.
4. Diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Dances

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There are several types of dances: Latin American (rumba, samba, cha-cha-cha), European – classical dances (tango, waltzes and others), modern (RnB, Hip-Hop, Jazz).

Benefits:

1. Development of flexibility and agility, the body becomes more plastic.
2. Useful for motor coordination.
3. Good taste is formed.
4. Excellent prevention of colds.
5. Development of the respiratory system.

Disadvantages:

1. Large financial investment required.
2. There is a risk of injury.
3. There is a lot of competition in this sport, negative experiences are possible.
4. Dancing involves a strong load on the heart.

Contraindications:

1. Flat feet.
2. Problems of the cardiovascular system.
3. Vertebral hernias.

Kickboxing

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This is a contact form of martial arts in which both punches and kicks are allowed.

Benefits:

1. Muscles develop actively.
2. The child gets rid of fears, complexes, stress and various negative emotions.
3. Positive influence on the development of coordination, reaction and posture.
4. Excellent power load.

Disadvantages:

1. High injury rate of competitions, especially in directions.
2. Undeveloped organizational issues (training programs are not well thought out and there are no clear rules for conducting fights).

Contraindications:

1. Any chronic disease in the acute stage.
2. Problems with joints or spine.

Capoeira

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Brazilian national martial art, in which elements of dance, acrobatics, and games have found their place.

Benefits:

1. Muscles develop actively.
2. The child gets rid of fears, complexes, stress and various negative emotions.
3. Positive influence on the development of coordination, reaction and posture.
4. Excellent power load.

Disadvantages:

There is only one main disadvantage – it is not easy to find a good professional coach. This sport is not yet very popular, so there are few good mentors.

Contraindications:

1. Trauma.
2. Problems of the cardiovascular system.

Acrobatics

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One of the types of gymnastics, which includes exercises for agility, flexibility, jumping, strength, and balance.

Benefits:

1. Acrobatics are good for using up excess energy.
2. Improves metabolism.
3. Positive influence on the child’s psyche and mental activity.
4. Uniform load on all muscle groups.

Weaknesses:

The main disadvantage is that it is easy to get injured. Most often these are sprains and various bruises.

Contraindications:

1. Epilepsy.
2. Problems with the heart and blood vessels.
3. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
4. Myopia.
5. Curvature of the spine.

Equestrian

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Involves competition, sports and exercise involving horseback riding.

Benefits:

1. Regular contact with an animal has a positive effect on the mental state.
2. Good relaxation.
3. Development of a sense of balance, muscles, coordination.

Disadvantages:

The only drawback is that such a sport is not always available. There may not be a stable nearby, and the classes themselves will require significant financial costs.

Contraindications:

1. Heart problems.
2. Risk of thrombosis.

Tips for parents of boys

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Sports have an invaluable impact not only on the body of the child, but also on his mental state. A powerful educational effect cannot be discounted, because leadership qualities, the ability to self-discipline, and responsibility are especially important for a boy.

The choice of a sports section should be influenced by the child’s hobbies, but the parents have the last word. It is necessary to pay attention to the development of the boy, his character.

You can start playing sports at an early age. Any physical activity is interesting for both kids and older children. An important point – you can not force the child. The task of parents is to stimulate the appearance of the boy’s interest.