How much for preschoolers? (1-4 years)

Physical activity	Sedentary behaviour
Toddlers and preschoolers (1–4 years) Accumulate ≥ 180 minutes of physical activity at any intensity throughout the day. Progress towards ≥ 60 minutes of energetic play daily by 5 years.	Minimize sedentary time (e.g., sitting for more than 1 hour at a time). Children under 2 years old: Screen time is not recommended. Children 2 to 4 years old: Limit screen time to less than 1 hour every day.

Toddlers and preschoolers (1–4 years)

Accumulate ≥ 180 minutes of physical activity at any intensity throughout the day.
Progress towards ≥ 60 minutes of energetic play daily by 5 years.

Minimize sedentary time (e.g., sitting for more than 1 hour at a time).

Children under 2 years old: Screen time is not recommended.

Children 2 to 4 years old: Limit screen time to less than 1 hour every day.

Our experts talk about the role physicians play in helping children and teens maintain healthy, active lives.
Watch more videos

Do: Strategies for your practice

Calculate and plot BMI once a year using the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts.
Download or order a poster promoting physical activity for preschoolers and display it in your health care or community setting.

What being active means	How to increase physical activity	How to reduce sedentary behaviour
Any kind of movement (e.g., climbing stairs, crawling, walking).	Create safe spaces for play Play music, learn action songs together Play/explore indoors and outdoors Play with other children Walk or bike instead of driving Crawl, take a brisk walk, hop, skip, run, dance	Limit use of playpens and infant seats when baby is awake Stop for playtime during long car trips Set rules to limit screen time Keep TVs and computers out of bedrooms

Parent-friendly fact sheets and videos about healthy active living are available from Caring for Kids.
Early Years (1-4 years) lists examples of activities that parents can do with their infant, toddler, or preschooler. They are organized by age and have handy checkboxes for tracking each day of the week.
Help connect families with local recreation and community resources.

Last updated: Feb 6, 2024