Haze Season: Practise Your Child's Fundamental Movement Skills at Home

Smoke haze from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan has kept Singapore's air quality in the Unhealthy range on many days this October, with the central region's 24-hour PSI reaching 229 on 16 October, the highest reading of 2026. When the PSI is Unhealthy, the National Environment Agency (NEA) advises that children minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.

Fewer park sessions doesn't have to mean less development. A living room is enough space to practise the same fundamental movement skills our coaches build in every Minisport class. Here's what those skills are, and simple games to work on each one at home.

Before heading out on any day, check the 1-hour PM2.5 reading on haze.gov.sg or the myENV app. Indoors, keep windows closed when the haze is bad and run an air purifier in the room your child plays in, if you have one.

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What are fundamental movement skills?

Fundamental movement skills are the building blocks behind almost every sport and active game. They're usually grouped into 3 families:

• Locomotor skills: moving the body from one place to another, like running, jumping, hopping, galloping and skipping.
• Balance (stability) skills: controlling the body while still or moving, like standing on one leg, landing, twisting and stopping.
• Object control skills: handling an object with hands, feet or an implement, like throwing, catching, kicking, bouncing and striking.

The early years are when these skills develop fastest. The Singapore Integrated 24-Hour Activity Guidelines for Early Childhood, developed by a KK Women's and Children's Hospital-led programme and launched in January 2022, note that a strong foundation in movement competence in childhood is linked to lifelong participation in physical activity. The same guidelines recommend at least 180 minutes of physical activity a day for toddlers and preschoolers, with at least 60 of those minutes moderate to vigorous for children aged 3 to 6.

This is why Minisport rotates through 6 sports: each one practises these skills in a different way. The games below do the same at home.

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Locomotor skills: running, jumping, hopping

Animal walks Call out an animal and move like it across the room: bear crawl on hands and feet, frog jumps with 2 feet together, crab walk with tummy facing up.

• What it practises: coordination between arms and legs, 2-footed jumping, and the upper-body strength children need for climbing and rolling.
• Playgroup (1.5 to 2.5): stick to crawling and stomping like an elephant. Do it with them.
• Mini-Tots (2.5 to 4): add frog jumps and let them choose the next animal.
• Explorers (4 to 6): add a bunny hop on 1 foot or a gallop like a horse.

Masking tape hopscotch Tape a row of squares on the floor. Children jump from square to square with 2 feet, then try hopping on 1.

• What it practises: jumping, hopping and landing with control.
• Coaching cue: "Land soft like a cat." Bent knees on landing protect joints and help children stay balanced.
• Make it harder: spread the squares further apart, or call out a colour or number to land on.

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Balance skills: staying steady

Tightrope walk Tape a straight line along the floor and walk it heel to toe, arms out like a tightrope walker.

• What it practises: dynamic balance, meaning staying steady while moving.
• Playgroup: walk the line holding your hand.
• Mini-Tots: walk it alone, then backwards.
• Explorers: carry a soft toy on their head, or stop halfway and stand on 1 leg for 5 seconds.

Freeze dance Put music on and dance. When it stops, everyone freezes in a shape: a star, a flamingo on 1 leg, a sleeping lion.

• What it practises: static balance, body control when stopping suddenly, and listening skills.
• Make it harder: call a shape just before you stop the music so they have to switch quickly.

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Object control skills: throwing, catching, kicking, striking

Laundry basket basketball Place a basket on the floor and throw sock balls or soft toys into it.

• What it practises: aiming and throwing.
• Coaching cue: for an overarm throw, step forward with the opposite foot to the throwing arm. It's the same pattern used in tennis serves and cricket bowling.
• Playgroup: stand close and drop or roll the ball in.
• Mini-Tots: underarm throws from a few steps back.
• Explorers: overarm throws, then raise the basket onto a chair.

Sock-ball football Turn a laundry basket on its side as a goal and kick a rolled-up sock ball into it.

• What it practises: kicking accuracy and balance on the standing leg.
• Coaching cue: place the standing foot beside the ball and kick with the inside of the foot for control.
• Explorers: take turns in goal to practise catching and blocking.

Balloon tennis Tape a paper plate to a wooden spoon to make a racket and keep a balloon in the air. Count the hits together.

• What it practises: striking, hand-eye coordination and tracking a moving object. Balloons move slowly, which gives young children time to react.
• Make it harder: hit it to each other, or alternate left and right hand.
• Safety: supervise closely with under-3s and pick up any burst balloon pieces straight away.

Hallway hockey Use a pool noodle or rolled-up newspaper as a stick and a sock ball as the puck. Steer it between 2 cushions.

• What it practises: controlling an object with an implement while moving.
• Make it harder: set up a slalom of cushions to weave through.

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Tips for practising at home

• Little and often. 3 or 4 short sessions of 10 to 15 minutes work better than 1 long one, and they all add up towards the daily 180 minutes.
• Clear a safe space. Move breakables and furniture with sharp corners, and play barefoot on slippery floors.
• Let them repeat. Young children learn movement through repetition. The 10th throw teaches more than the 1st.
• Praise the effort. "Great big step forward!" helps more than "Good job" because it tells them what they did well.
• Join in. Children copy what they see, so your demonstration is the best coaching cue.

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If your child attends Minisport, our indoor venue at Trilogic Fitness Novena (Revenue House) runs classes whatever the PSI says!

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