Fitness Curriculum

12 week fitness programme for Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 

Focus: fundamental movement skills, physical development, and well-being. 

Aim: improving motor skills, coordination, balance, and social interaction. EYFS emphasizes developing physical health and self-confidence, with a focus on learning through play.

Objective: Build coordination, balance, and basic motor skills.

• Week 1:
  
  • Activity 1: Animal Movements
    Children move around the space mimicking animals (e.g., hop like a frog, slither like a snake, crawl like a bear).
    Development Focus: Gross motor skills (jumping, crawling, etc.), balance, and coordination.
  • Activity 2: Obstacle Course
    Set up a simple obstacle course (e.g., cones to weave through, tunnels to crawl through, small platforms to hop between).
    Development Focus: Agility, balance, coordination.
• Week 2:
  
  • Activity 1: Ball Skills
    Children roll, throw, catch, and kick soft balls.
    Development Focus: Hand-eye coordination, gross motor skills, teamwork.
  • Activity 2: “Freeze” Dance
    Play music and have children dance freely. When the music stops, they freeze in their current position.
    Development Focus: Balance, rhythm, and body control.
• Week 3:
  
  • Activity 1: “Simon Says” with Movement
    Play Simon Says using different movements (e.g., touch your toes, jump up and down, wiggle your arms).
    Development Focus: Listening skills, body awareness, coordination.
  • Activity 2: Balloon/Beach Ball Play
    Children pass a balloon or beach ball to one another, trying not to let it touch the ground.
    Development Focus: Hand-eye coordination, teamwork, and social skills.

Objective: Focus on developing strength, balance, and stability.

• Week 4:
  
  • Activity 1: Simple Yoga Poses
    Introduce basic yoga poses such as "tree," "downward dog," and "cat-cow."
    Development Focus: Flexibility, balance, mindfulness.
  • Activity 2: Push and Pull
    Use lightweight equipment like small ropes or soft resistance bands to practice pushing and pulling motions.
    Development Focus: Upper body strength, coordination.
• Week 5:
  
  • Activity 1: Balance Beam Walk
    Set up a low balance beam or tape a line on the floor. Children walk along it while maintaining balance.
    Development Focus: Balance, concentration, motor control.
  • Activity 2: Strength Circuit
    A circuit with activities like squats, leg raises, and jumping jacks. Rotate through each activity for 30 seconds each.
    Development Focus: Lower body strength, endurance.
• Week 6:
  
  • Activity 1: Balance Challenges
    Use cushions, mats, and soft equipment to create varied balance challenges (e.g., balancing on one foot, balancing with eyes closed).
    Development Focus: Balance, stability, body control.
  • Activity 2: Animal Crawl
    Set up a space where children crawl like different animals: bear crawl, crab walk, etc.
    Development Focus: Strength, coordination, and gross motor skills.

Objective: Develop speed, agility, and endurance.

• Week 7:
  
  • Activity 1: Running Races
    Set up a short racecourse, encouraging children to run to the finish line as quickly as possible.
    Development Focus: Speed, agility, coordination.
  • Activity 2: “Follow the Leader”
    Lead the children through a variety of movements (running, hopping, skipping).
    Development Focus: Speed, agility, following instructions.
• Week 8:
  
  • Activity 1: Relay Races
    Divide children into teams and have them race in a relay format, passing a baton or marker.
    Development Focus: Teamwork, speed, hand-eye coordination.
  • Activity 2: Directional Movement Games
    Set up cones or markers and have children run to designated points (e.g., “run to the red cone,” “jump over the blue cone”).
    Development Focus: Agility, speed, and listening skills.
• Week 9:
  
  • Activity 1: Jumping Activities
    Practice various jumping skills like jumping over lines or obstacles, hopping on one foot, and jumping forward.
    Development Focus: Leg strength, coordination, balance.
  • Activity 2: Agility Ladder
    Lay down an agility ladder (or tape a ladder shape on the floor). Have children step in and out of the squares, focusing on quick foot movements.
    Development Focus: Agility, footwork, and speed.

Objective: Encourage fitness through fun, social interaction, and mindfulness.

• Week 10:
  
  • Activity 1: Dance Party
    Have a dance session where children can freely express themselves with music.
    Development Focus: Coordination, social interaction, and rhythm.
  • Activity 2: Mindful Breathing
    Introduce short mindful breathing exercises, encouraging children to inhale through the nose and exhale slowly.
    Development Focus: Relaxation, mindfulness, emotional regulation.
• Week 11:
  
  • Activity 1: Parachute Play
    Use a large parachute to do activities like lifting it up and down or creating waves with it.
    Development Focus: Coordination, teamwork, and large muscle movement.
  • Activity 2: "Superhero" Training
    Children act as superheroes by performing actions like flying (jumping), running fast, and crawling.
    Development Focus: Agility, strength, and creativity.
• Week 12:
  
  • Activity 1: Fun Sports Day
    Organize a mini "sports day" with stations for running, jumping, throwing, and balancing.
    Development Focus: Gross motor skills, teamwork, social interaction.
  • Activity 2: Relaxation Time
    End the program with a group stretching and relaxation session, helping children unwind.
    Development Focus: Flexibility, mindfulness, relaxation.

• Equipment: Keep equipment light and age-appropriate (e.g., soft balls, bean bags, small cones, hula hoops).
• Adaptability: Tailor activities based on the needs of the group, making adjustments for individual capabilities and preferences.
• Incorporate EYFS Goals: Link activities to broader EYFS development areas, like Communication and Language, Personal, Social, and Emotional Development, and Understanding the World.
• Engagement: Use positive reinforcement, praise effort, and encourage children to express themselves through movement and play.

This programme is designed to be flexible and fun, with plenty of opportunity for children to develop both physical skills and social-emotional abilities. It incorporates core EYFS principles while fostering a love for movement, teamwork, and self-expression.