Fit WIC Activities Booklet and Activity Pyramid
The Fit WIC Vermont project developed the Fit WIC Activites booklet (pdf) in response to research which indicated that parents valued physical a
ctivity as a healthy behavior for their children, but were unsure about the types or amounts that would be appropriate for their preschoolers.
This colorful and readable guide for parents provides information on the relationship between cognitive and physical development, and introduces the Fit WIC Activity Pyamid (pdf).
Both the booklet and the pyramid present ideas for incorporating physical activity into everyday routines, offer specific skill-building activities designed to enhance physical development and learning, and encourage families to be active in their communities together.
The base of the pyramid gives examples of incorporating activity into everyday life, such as helping around the house and walking the dog. The center of the pyramid lists skills to learn and practice, for example running, climbing, and balancing. The top gives ways to have family fun by exploring the community, such as visiting a museum, library, local farm or farmers' market.
While the main focus is on age-appropriate activities for children 3 to 5 years old, some ideas for infants and toddlers are given on the back of the pyramid. Tips for infants include providing safe "floor time" where they can reach, roll, or crawl. Peek-a-boo or Pat-a-cake are great games to play with infants. An example of a game to help with toddlers learn to control their bodies is Ring Around the Rosy. Additional parent resources for infants and toddlers include Playing with Your Baby (pdf) and Playing with Your Toddler (pdf).
The Fit WIC Activities booklet expands on each section of the pyramid. An example of an activity for building running and jumping skills in preschoolers is the "Bubble Chase". In addition to the fun of chasing and popping bubbles, a recipe for a homemade bubble solution and ideas for bubble wands are provided.
Recommendations for amounts of daily physical activity were taken from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Guidelines for children from birth to 5 years old. These guidelines include:
| Structured Physical Activity | Unstructured Physical Activity | |
|---|---|---|
| Toddlers | Aim for at least 30 minutes per day | Aim for 60 minutes up to several hours per day |
| Preschoolers | Aim for at least 60 minutes per day | Aim for 60 minutes up to several hours per day |
Fit WIC Activities promotes the role of parents as their child's first and most important teacher, and offers parents the skills and confidence needed to successfully take on this role.