I Move We Move - Good For Kids - NSW Government

Equipment to promote physically active play
Whether it be as part of a group activity, provocation or available to children during free play;
with creativity, simple resources and equipment can be a great way to encourage active play. The
information below describes some equipment ideas to encourage active play.
Balls
An assortment of balls should be readily accessible to children either placed in ball bags or in
baskets on shelving. Children may use these for catching and throwing, kicking or target practice.
There are many different types of balls such as plastic, beach, sensory, wobble, foam or stress balls.
Please don’t use hard or heavy balls e.g. cricket balls or standard sized basketballs.
Scarves or ribbon
Soft fabric is slow to move through the air giving the children time to track and prepare their bodies
and hands for catching. Children can throw the scarves in a small area indoors or outdoors without
fear of wayward projectiles. Scarves can be accessed at garage sales; op shops; or ask parents for
donations.
Wooden jouncer boards
Placed on the ground these will encourage most children to test their skill without adult support.
These boards can be placed into interesting configurations or left individually. Other materials can
be added to these boards to make it more challenging and extend skill development.
Footprints
These can be purchased or made using the children’s footprints after walking through finger paint.
Cut these out and laminate. Adult or school aged family members may also volunteer to make the
footprints. Having a selection of adult and child sized footprints will help to promote discussion
about feet and walking. Make these using a variety of colours to add to the flexibility of how the
materials can be used.
Make your own!
Re-use everyday household items to make equipment; helping to save the environment and your budget.
Bats
Roll up and then tape a newspaper, or use a cardboard tube e.g. from the inside of wrapping paper.
Skittles
Use milk bottles that have been washed.
Totem tennis
Attach a rope between two pieces of equipment and hang stockings with foam tennis balls from
this. Add a few bats and you have achieved the same result at a fraction of the cost of buying a
totem tennis set.
Crash mats
Fill queen sized bed quilt covers with foam off cuts from rubber stores – these can be bought
cheaply from a rubber or foam products store. Put the off cuts into the cover and sew using a
heavy weight thread.
For more equipment ideas and games to encourage active play involving torches,
balloons, kites and parachutes see The Physical Activity Handbook – Preschoolers
(Tables 1 and 6, pages P.2 and P.10).
I Move We Move, The Guide Edition 1 August 2009
AREA HEALTH SERVICE
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