Fun circuit play for 4-year-olds: physical activities using balance beams, mats, and more.
By the time children are four years old, they can control their walking and running speed on their own and are able to perform more complex body movements such as skipping and hopping on one foot.
Many teachers may be thinking about incorporating activities that let children move their bodies to the fullest during this period of significant motor development.
So this time, we’re introducing circuit play ideas recommended for four-year-olds.
From activities that use equipment like horizontal bars, vaulting boxes, and mats to those that let children move while enjoying an imaginative world—pretending to be animals or avoiding “dangers”—we’ve gathered circuit play ideas perfectly suited to the development of four-year-olds!
These activities can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors, so please use them as a reference.
Fun circuit play for 4-year-olds: movement activities using a balance beam, mats, and more (1–10)
Mat play
Circuit play, where you connect pieces of equipment and move through several activities, lets children enjoy exercise without getting bored thanks to its variety.
Here, we introduce a circuit that uses only mats.
First is the mat wall climb, where a mat is placed at an angle against a step; this builds climbing strength.
Next is a jump from a vaulting box onto a mat.
You can also lay a mat near a wall for wall-walking handstands, and create a slide with an inclined mat.
With a bit of creativity, you can set up many different kinds of activities.
vaulting box
Circuit training combines different exercises in a sequence, but it might be a good idea to modify it so that even with the same setup, individuals can choose what to do.
For example, with a vaulting box, you could climb on top and jump down, or leap over it.
Letting people freely perform various techniques they’ve come up with makes it more fun, and watching others can expose you to techniques you didn’t know.
Coming up with new moves also trains the brain.
By providing options, people can enjoy exercising without feeling stressed.
Pool stick crossing
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmLQOZav88j/Pool noodles, which are so useful during pool season, are also perfect for circuit play thanks to their lightweight, colorful look made from polyethylene foam.
They cut easily with a utility knife, which makes them very convenient to use.
If you slice one lengthwise and place the cut side down, kids can have fun and get excited walking along the rounded top, trying to keep their balance.
The soft texture feels pleasant on the soles of the feet, and they also make great markers—“Try going to the blue one,” or “Start from the red one,” and so on!
Mat Tunnel
With a mat and three hula hoops, you can make a fun tunnel.
Because the tunnel has no roof, kids are less likely to feel scared and can try it more easily.
The rounded base requires them to keep their balance, which helps build core strength.
As a bonus, if you wiggle the hula hoops while they’re crawling through, it becomes even more fun.
You can make it right away with just what you have on hand, and cleanup is a breeze, so it’s a highly recommended activity.
Give it a try!
Crawling through a spider web
https://www.instagram.com/p/CZxzljqBcGR/This is a spiderweb crawl where kids slip through a web of crisscrossed strings! Wrap packing tape or similar around a horizontal bar at random, and let children crawl through the gaps.
They’re free to choose which part of the body goes in first and which gap to thread a foot through.
Flexible kids might wriggle through in amazing positions that adults could never imitate.
Please supervise closely so they don’t get carried away and strain themselves with awkward postures.
And teachers, be careful of your backs—watch out for things like sudden back strain when demonstrating!
Cardboard caterpillar
Cardboard pieces joined together transform into a caterpillar you can crawl inside and play with! Just prepare some large cardboard boxes and tape them together for an easy build.
We also recommend making several and holding a relay or race.
Since kids move forward on their knees, dress them in clothing that covers their knees to prevent scrapes and injuries.
And because the child inside can’t see ahead at all, be sure to supervise closely to prevent them from bumping into walls or colliding with other caterpillars.
Tunnel play
Kids love active play, don’t they? Let’s try some tunnel play using various items found in daycare or kindergarten! You can cut holes in newspaper or use the frame of a vaulting box, and add variety by arranging them vertically or horizontally.
You could also make lots of tunnels out of things like string or plastic bags and set them up like an obstacle course—kids are sure to love it.
