Indoor Physical Activities for Infants and Preschoolers: Creative Ways to Keep Young Minds and Bodies Active
- Genesis Childcare 1989 - Tampines
- Sep 4, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
While open outdoor spaces are ideal for children’s physical activities, Singapore’s limited land and shared public areas can make outdoor playtime a challenge. Many parents in Tampines know how hard it can be to find a big, open field where children can safely run, jump, and explore. However, at Genesis Childcare 1989, we believe that even with these space constraints, infants and preschoolers can still enjoy plenty of movement-based learning opportunities — right at home or within our well-equipped indoor facilities at our Tampines preschool, Tampines nursery, and Tampines child care centers.
Physical activity plays an essential role in early development. From improving balance and coordination to strengthening muscles and boosting cognitive growth, movement helps children grow holistically. The good news? You don’t always need a large playground to encourage physical growth. With a bit of creativity, everyday household items can become tools for fun and active play that support your child’s motor development.
Below, we share some simple yet effective indoor physical games and activities that parents can do with their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers — all designed to nurture growth, enhance coordination, and bring plenty of laughter into your home.
1. Movement Games: Building Coordination Through Play
Music and movement are powerful tools for early development. Even babies as young as a few months old instinctively respond to rhythm — you might notice your infant’s tiny feet kicking to the beat of a song. This natural connection between rhythm and movement is an excellent foundation for physical activity.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, music and movement are integral parts of our daily routines at our Tampines nursery and Tampines infant care programs. Dancing to music helps children improve flexibility, develop balance, and enhance gross motor skills, all while having fun.
Parents can recreate this at home easily. Play your child’s favorite songs and encourage them to move freely. For infants, you can gently guide their hands and legs to the rhythm. For toddlers and preschoolers, turn dancing into a game — such as a mini dance party where everyone takes turns showing their moves!
Another fantastic movement game is “Simon Says.” This timeless activity promotes listening skills and body coordination. Start simple with instructions like “jump three times” or “touch your toes.” As your child gets older, add creative twists such as “walk like a crab,” “hop like a bunny,” or “pretend to sit on an invisible chair.” These variations engage different muscle groups and improve balance.
At our Tampines preschool, teachers often integrate such interactive games into daily lessons to promote active learning. Movement-based play doesn’t just strengthen muscles — it also enhances focus, creativity, and confidence.
2. Ribbon or Scarf Play: Encouraging Coordination and Creativity
Ribbons and scarves are versatile tools that can turn any living room into a fun play zone. If you don’t have ribbons at home, a light scarf or piece of fabric will work just as well. For infants, you can dangle the ribbon gently above them, encouraging them to reach, grab, or track its movement with their eyes. This activity supports eye-hand coordination and strengthens visual tracking skills.
For toddlers and preschoolers, ribbon play becomes even more exciting. Allow your child to hold a ribbon and explore how it moves when they spin, jump, or twirl. Encourage them to “draw” shapes, letters, or numbers in the air using the ribbon. This helps develop fine motor control and creativity while reinforcing early literacy and numeracy concepts.
Another fun variation is to toss the ribbon into the air and try catching it as it floats down. This improves timing, hand-eye coordination, and concentration. For younger toddlers, parents can toss the ribbon while the child focuses on catching it.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, our teachers at the Tampines child care center use similar activities to integrate movement and learning in a safe, nurturing environment. We always ensure there’s enough space for children to move freely while staying safe, helping them develop both physically and emotionally.
To add more fun, you can tape a folded ribbon or scarf on the floor in a straight line. Challenge your toddler or preschooler to walk along it without stepping off. This simple game helps improve balance and spatial awareness — essential skills for confident walking, running, and other complex movements.
3. Hula Hoops and Balls: Boosting Strength and Coordination
Simple toys like hula hoops and balls offer endless opportunities for indoor play and development. While infants might not yet be ready to use them directly, older babies can begin exploring smaller, soft balls to grasp and roll.
For toddlers, catching and throwing lightweight plastic balls can help improve motor control and strengthen their arms. Start by gently rolling the ball back and forth, then progress to tossing and catching. You can even turn it into a family activity — parents, siblings, and children taking turns in a fun game of catch helps strengthen both physical skills and emotional bonding.
Preschoolers can explore more complex challenges like bouncing the ball before catching it or trying to pick it up using only their feet while lying down. Activities like these enhance muscle coordination, reflexes, and focus.
Hula hoops also bring plenty of fun to indoor play. Encourage your preschooler to roll the hoop across the floor and run to catch it before it falls. They can also use it for pretend games — such as “jumping through a magic ring” or “rolling the hoop to the finish line.”
At Genesis Childcare 1989, our Tampines preschool teachers incorporate similar activities to support children’s physical development. Our safe indoor play zones allow children to explore freely while trained educators guide them in movement-based learning. The combination of fun and structured play ensures that each child develops strength, coordination, and self-confidence.
Why Indoor Physical Activities Matters in Singapore
In land-scarce Singapore, families often face space limitations. But physical activity should never be compromised. Whether at home or in a Tampines child care setting, children need opportunities to move, explore, and strengthen their growing bodies. Indoor play bridges this gap perfectly.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we understand the importance of adapting to these urban constraints. That’s why our Tampines infant care, Tampines preschool, and Tampines nursery centers are thoughtfully designed to maximize movement within safe indoor environments. From soft play corners to music and dance sessions, our curriculum encourages children to stay active even on rainy days or during hot afternoons when outdoor play isn’t possible.
Through purposeful play, we promote not just physical fitness but also social-emotional growth. Group activities teach children teamwork, patience, and empathy, while individual play helps them gain independence and body awareness.
Supporting Growth Beyond the Classroom
Parents play an essential role in reinforcing what children learn at school. The activities above are easy, low-cost, and perfect for bonding with your child. Whether it’s dancing to music, waving ribbons, or tossing balls, each movement contributes to stronger muscles, sharper reflexes, and a happier, healthier child.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we partner with parents to support each child’s development journey. Our dedicated educators provide regular feedback and guidance, suggesting simple exercises you can try at home to enhance what your child learns during the day.
Our holistic approach ensures that every child — from infants in our Tampines infant care program to preschoolers in our Tampines nursery — experiences a balanced mix of learning, play, and movement.
Final Thoughts
While outdoor spaces are valuable for children’s physical growth, they are not the only option. With creativity, encouragement, and guidance from trusted educators, indoor play can be just as effective in nurturing active, confident, and healthy young learners.
At Genesis Childcare 1989, we take pride in offering safe, stimulating environments where children thrive — physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our Tampines infant care, Tampines child care, Tampines preschool, and Tampines nursery programs are thoughtfully designed to give every child the space and support they need to grow, move, and discover the joy of learning through play.
Give your child the gift of active learning and holistic development — explore Genesis Childcare 1989 today and see how we bring movement, creativity, and care together under one roof in Tampines.
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Genesis Tampines Childcare 1989 is one of the best preschool and childcare in Tampines. Our Preschool Tampines have over 30 years of experience in nurturing thousands of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. At our Tampines Childcare, we advocate that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished.
As a leading early childhood center in Singapore since 1989, we are committed to nurturing our early learners holistically through various learning areas and positive learning dispositions. We place a strong emphasis on the way our teachers facilitate and interact with the children.
Our Childcare Tampines believe that every child is unique and precious who needs to be loved and cherished. Hence, our holistic curriculum aims to create meaningful learning experiences for each and every one of them!
Our Playgroup Tampines provides parents with the confidence that their children are in the good hands of our trained and caring teachers.
Our professional team of preschool teachers has a good understanding of child development and learning principles. We apply them efficiently and set the stage to create a meaningful learning experience that supports your child's discovery.
We consistently create a positive and cozy environment that will give your child a sense of security which builds their self-confidence to explore the world around them.
If you are looking for a good Tampines infant care or Tampines preschool or Tampines childcare near Tampines Central, do consider Nurture Infant House or Genesis Childcare 1989.
Located alongside our childcare in Tampines is our Nurture Infant House. If you are looking for Tampines infant care or infant care in Tampines, do visit Nurture Infant House. It is for infants aged 2 months to 18 months old. You can learn more about our infant care Tampines here.
Lastly, would you like to visit our Genesis Childcare 1989 to find out more about our environment and setup as well as understand our operations by talking to our teachers and supervisor?
Genesis Childcare 1989 (Playgroup to Kindergarten 2)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 S(520433)
Nurture Infant House (2 to 18 months Infants)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 S(520433)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm) & Saturday (7am to 2pm)
Public Bus services: 8 / 21 / 28 / 29 / 293
Tel: 96664141
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