5 Ways Your Kids Can Get Creative with Active Play

Kids don’t need fancy equipment or structured classes to stay active. Sometimes, all it takes is a little imagination and a nudge in the right direction.

Unstructured play isn’t just fun — it helps kids develop problem-solving skills, resilience, and adaptability.¹ But with screens taking over free time, many kids struggle to come up with their own movement-based games. That’s where you come in.

Here’s how you can spark their creativity and turn everyday moments into active play.

1. Break the Rules (of Play)

Who says games need a rulebook? Free play builds movement skills in a way that feels effortless. Research shows that kids who engage in unstructured play develop better motor coordination and creativity than those in structured sport alone.²

2. Let Them Take Charge

Kids stay more engaged when they have control over their play. Studies show they’re more physically active when they lead the way instead of following instructions.³

💡 Try This:

• Let them invent a new game — even if it seems silly at first.
• Ask, “What happens next?” instead of telling them what to do.
• Let them be the “coach” or “game master” and set the rules.

When kids feel in charge, they play longer, move more, and build confidence along the way.

3. Turn Any Space Into a Playground

No field? No problem. With a little creativity, anywhere can be a play zone. Here are some ideas:

🏡 Indoors: Balloon volleyball (use the couch or line up chairs for an imaginary “net”), sock bowling (knock down empty plastic bottles/toilet rolls with rolled up socks), yoga “freeze” games (play music and hold a yoga pose when it stops).

🏢 Void Deck: Chalk hopscotch, relay races, stair challenges.

🚶‍♂️ On the Go: Skip to the next lamppost, walk like a crab, jump over imaginary puddles.

Instead of seeing a lack of space as a barrier, help your child turn it into an opportunity!

4. Weave Play Into Daily Life

Active play doesn’t need a dedicated time slot. Short bursts of movement throughout the day help kids focus better and reduce stress.⁴

💡 Try This:

• Race your child up the stairs on your way home.
• Crab walk to the nearest bus stop.
• Turn chores into an active challenge: “Can you put your toys away in under 30 seconds?”

Making movement part of daily life means it becomes second nature, not a task.

5. Keep It Fun & Celebrate Creativity

Want kids to keep moving? Make it exciting! The goal isn’t to master a skill, but to build a love for movement that lasts a lifetime.

💡 Try This:

• Praise their creativity: “That’s a cool game! Let’s play again tomorrow.”
• Encourage them to teach their friends their new game.
• Adapt and evolve games as they grow; let their imagination lead the way.

Your child doesn’t need a sport team or structured class to get moving. They just need the freedom to invent, explore, and turn any space into a playground. And with you cheering them on, they’ll build movement skills, confidence, and a lifelong love for play.

Sources:

¹ The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. Ginsburg, 2007. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/119/1/182/70699/The-Importance-of-Play-in-Promoting-Healthy-Child?autologincheck=redirected 

² Strength Training in Children and Adolescents. Sports Health, 2009. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3445252/ 

³ Exploring physically active play in the early childhood curriculum from a complexity thinking perspective. Hussain, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2016.1208648 

⁴ Parent Hub: Grow Well SG — Nurturing Healthy Behaviours. Health Promotion Board, 2023. https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/parent-hub/grow-well-sg/nurture-healthy-behaviours#exercise-well