Indoor or Outdoor Physical Activity: Child care providers are to

Indoor or Outdoor Physical Activity: Child care providers are to provide infants, toddlers, and preschool children with opportunities to be physically active throughout the day. 1. Toddlers and preschool children will be provided the opportunity for light physical activity for at least 15 minutes per hour when children are not involved in their scheduled rest period. 2. Toddlers should accumulate a minimum of 60 minutes of structured moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. 3. Preschoolers should accumulate a minimum of 60 minutes of structured moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. 4. Caregivers should join in and lead the structured moderate to vigorous physical activities in which the children participate. 5. Structured physical activity should involve the performance of large muscle activities. 6. Half-day programs are only required to provide for physical activity for one-half (½) the time as stated above. NOTE: Examples of “light physical activity” may be found in the Child Care Licensure section of the MSDH website at www.HealthyMS.com. Examples of “moderate physical activity” are aerobic dancing, light calisthenics, getting up and down from the floor, dancing, playing on school ground equipment, singing while actively moving about, etc. Examples of “vigorous physical activity” are running, jumping rope, performing jumping jacks, playing soccer, skipping, etc. Regardless of the activity, it should be age appropriate and within the physical ability limits of the child. Please, understand the above requirement does not mean 60 minutes vigorous activity at one time. The 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity can and should be spread out in short time intervals, (e.g., 5-15 minute intervals) throughout the day.