Top tips for indoor physical play
Physical play is a vital part of early childhood development, helping children build coordination, strength, confidence and social skills—all while having fun. In a nursery setting, where outdoor access may sometimes be limited, it’s important to create engaging and safe opportunities for movement indoors. See our top tips for practical, creative ways to support active play and keep little ones moving, exploring and thriving throughout the day.
Top tips for indoor physical play outline
- Create a safe, flexible space: Use soft mats, foam blocks, and movable furniture to adapt the environment. Clear any furniture with sharp edges or hazards. You could divide the room into zones to allow for different types of movement (jumping, crawling, climbing, etc)
- Incorporate movement into daily routines: Add movement breaks between quieter activities (like a quick dance or stretch). Use music and action songs to get the children moving without needing a lot of space
- Offer a variety of equipment: Think lightweight and portable: tunnels, balance beams, stepping stones, balls, hoops and beanbags. Rotate materials regularly to keep interest high and support different motor skills
- Promote imaginative movement: Set up obstacle courses or themed adventures (e.g. jungle trek, pirate ship, etc). Encourage role play that involves movement—pretend to be animals, superheroes or vehicles
- Model and encourage active play: Staff should join in! Children love to copy adults and your enthusiasm is contagious. Use open-ended prompts like, “How many ways can you move across the room?” or “Can you balance like a flamingo?”
- Focus on fundamental movement skills: Support running, jumping, balancing, throwing, catching, crawling and climbing. Repetition builds coordination and confidence—celebrate progress and effort, not perfection
- Make it a daily habit: Schedule indoor physical play into the daily routine—it shouldn’t just be a rainy-day backup. Consistency helps children build strong habits and look forward to movement time.
NDNA products to support you with this activity
PANCo – Training
Start Life Well – Online well-being framework
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
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