National Physical Activity Recommendations for Children (0-5 Years)
Being physically active every day is important for the healthy growth and development of infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. These recommendations are for all infants aged 0-5 years who have not yet started school, irrespective of cultural background, gender or ability.
Physical Activity Recommendations
- For health development in infants (birth to one year) physical activity, particularly in supervised floor-based play, in safe environments should be encouraged from birth.
- Toddlers (1 to 3 years) and pre-schoolers (3 to 5 years) should be physically active every day for at least three hours, spread throughout the day.
Sedentary Behaviour Recommendations
- Children younger than 2 years of age should not spend any time watching television or using other electronic media (DVDs, computer and other electronic games).
- For children 2 to 5 years of age, sitting and watching television and the use of other electronic media (DVDs, computer and other electronic games) should be limited to less than one hour per day.
- Infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers (all children from birth to 5 years) should not be sedentary, restrained, or kept inactive for more than one hour at a time, with the exception of sleeping.