Printables for Activities from Babies to Tweens
Photo by Rashid Sadykov
An article by Susan Scandiffio offers a sampler of the Active for Life website in “15 ways to spark your child’s love of active play”.
Under the following headings, the article offers selections of offerings from the extensive range of Active for Life catalogue of articles and downloadable printouts. Here are a sample of the offerings from the different categories especially geared to infants/toddlers and younger children:
Children’s activities by age:
Why tummy time is so important for your baby
13 great resources for toddler activities
Outdoor activities for 4 year olds
Children’s activities by season
100 summer boredom busters for kids + free printable
Free downloads and printables
Some of the most popular free printables include scavenger hunts (for every season, for sensory play, and even for indoors), multiple lists of activity ideas, a day planner, activities and games (such as stroller bingo and activity dice).
Lesson plans and videos for school, camp, or after-school programs
The site offers ready-made lesson plans
Multilingual resources
The entire site is available in French and there are resources available in Arabic, Spanish, Ukrainian, Punjabi, Tagalog, Farsi, Vietnamese, Urdu, Chinese and others.
Sports for kids: skill development
As children grow, and develop interest in a particular sport, the site offers introductions to basic skills for a number of sports.
Limiting screen time for kids
The site offers advice and tips on reducing screen time and redirecting kids to other activities.
Keeping kids active on a budget.
9 low-cost sports: Keep your kids moving without breaking the bank
One-piece-of-equipment activities
1 piece of chalk, 8 active games
Outdoor games for kids: No-equipment-necessary
Fun no-equipment outdoor games for kids
20 outdoor sensory play activities for young children + free printable
Let them get dirty! And other tips for getting kids active in nature
Inclusion & physical activity for kids with diverse needs
Special-needs children: 5 ways to help their physical literacy flourish
Active and accessible summer fun for kids with disabilities
Risky play
The 17-second rule & the importance of risky play
Why I love watching my kids engage in risky play outdoors
Risky play is for toddlers too
Nutrition
30 healthy snacks for active kids
Tips from role models
Tips from an Olympian: Low-pressure ways to encourage kids’ love of activity
Travelling with your kids
Tips for keeping kids happy and active on long road trips
How to help active kids get their wiggles out before a flight
The site also offers ideas for active birthday parties, helping the environment while being active, discussion around mental health, and other topics around active lifestyles for kids. The site is searchable by age, which is very helpful when looking for specific ideas to suit your child.