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Physical Games to Play With a 4 Year Old

Physical activity is crucial for young children. It can help prevent problems with health and obesity and teach children how to be active. It's very difficult getting children to do something they don't want to do, so it's important to make physical activity fun for them. There are many physical games to teach your kids, so they have fun and stay healthy.

Hide and Seek
- Hide and seek is an old game that never goes out of style. It is easy to play, and great fun for kids of all ages. One kid is picked to be "it," covers his eyes and counts to 10 while the others hide. If there are no other kids around, a parent or babysitter can hide while the child counts. After the seeker counts, it's his job to run around looking for the people hiding. The first person found is now "it" and has to count and find everyone else.
Red Light, Green Light
- Red Light, Green Light is a game to play with many kids. One child is the red light, and stands about 15 feet in front of the rest of the kids. With her back facing everyone else, she yells 'green light," and everyone has to run as close to her as they can before she yells "red light." The red light then turns around. If she notices anyone still moving, that person is out. The first person to reach the red light wins and becomes the next red light.
What Time is it Mr. Fox?
- "What Time is it Mr. Fox?" is a game for three or more players. One child is Mr. Fox, and stands about 20 feet in front of the other players with his back turned. Everyone else yells "What time is it Mr. Fox?" Mr. Fox picks a number and yells it back. If Mr. Fox says "7 o'clock", the players have to take seven steps. If Mr. Fox says "it's time to eat you!" he chases everyone back to the starting line. Whoever is caught, or whoever reaches Mr. Fox first becomes the next Mr. Fox.
Jump Rope
- Jumping rope is another way to have fun. A parent or babysitter can help the child come up with a rhyme to sing while she jumps or she can sing one she already knows. She can jump by herself or jump together with friends while two others hold an end of the rope. Jumping rope exerts energy.

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