--- title: Active Play for Healthy Development description: Introduce young children to healthy eating with Farm to ECE, connecting them to fresh, local foods and fostering lifelong wellness habits. Learn more with Child Care Aware® of Missouri. image: https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/Clix%202026.01.20%20(1).png --- [![Child Care Aware of Missouri Logo](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Child%20Care%20Aware%20Logo%20(1).png?width=666&height=414&name=Child%20Care%20Aware%20Logo%20(1).png "Child Care Aware of Missouri Logo")](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication) Open main menu Close main menu [Child Care Health and Wellness](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/child-care-health-and-wellness) # Active Play for Healthy Development [Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/author/child-care-aware-of-missouri) [Share this blog post via Email](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EActive+Play+for+Healthy+Development%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post%3A+https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/chaw-active-play-for-healthy-development-2) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/chaw-active-play-for-healthy-development-2) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/chaw-active-play-for-healthy-development-2) ![](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/Clix%202026.01.20%20(1).png) Physical activity is essential in early care and education because young children learn best when they are moving. Active play strengthens developing muscles and bones, supports healthy growth, and helps children build coordination, balance, and motor skills. Just as importantly, movement fuels brain development by increasing blood flow to the brain, supporting focus and memory, and helping children regulate their emotions. Research shows preschoolers should engage in at least 120 minutes of physical activity each day, with toddlers needing at least 90 minutes. When children have daily opportunities to run, climb, dance, and explore, they build a strong foundation for lifelong health and learning. In early care and education settings, physical activity also plays a critical role in social emotional development and school readiness. Through active play, children learn to take turns, cooperate with peers, solve problems, and build confidence as they master new skills. For many children, early care programs provide the most consistent opportunities for safe, structured movement, making these environments essential for establishing healthy habits early. This time of year can make it especially challenging to get children outside to move, run, and explore consistently. Do you need support increasing physical activity while confined indoors, Go NAPSACC, Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment for Child Care, offers practical tools, strategies, and resources to help programs keep children active, engaged, and thriving year round. [Registration for the April 2026 Go NAPSACC](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F52LXNS) project is now open. [Click here to learn more about the Go NAPSACC project.](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/NAPSACC%20Flyer.2024.03.27%20(4).pdf) If you have questions, please contact Lauri Choate, Director of Training, at [lauri@mochildcareaware.org](mailto:lauri@mochildcareaware.org) or 314-754-1603.   --- Explore our other Child Care Aware® of Missouri resources: [Clock Hour Training](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/free-clock-hour-training) [Scholarships for Educators](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/scholarships-for-educators) [Child Care Health and Wellness](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/child-care-nutrition-and-physical-activity) [Family Child Care Network](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/family-child-care-network) [Leadership Development Opportunities](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/leadership-development-opportunities) [Missouri Office of Childhood Updates](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/missouri-office-of-childhood-updates) [Show Me Child Care Resources](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/show-me-child-care-resources) [Support Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/support-child-care-aware) [Community Data](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/community-data) [Join Our Team](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/join-our-team) [Resources to Build Your Business ](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/resources-to-build-your-business)     #### About - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### Services - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three #### News - Menu Item One - Menu Item Two - Menu Item Three Follow us on Facebook Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram