Being physically active every day is important
for the healthy growth and development of infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. These recommendations are for all infants aged 0-5 years who have not yet started school, irrespective of cultural background, gender or ability.
- For health development in infants (birth to one year) physical activity in particularly supervised floor-based play in safe environments should be encouraged from birth.
- Toddlers (1 to 3 years) and pre-schoolers (3 to 5 years) should be physically active every day for at least three hours, spread throughout the day.
- Children younger than 2 years of age should not spend any time watching television or using other electronic media (DVDs, computer and other electronic games).
- For children 2 to 5 years of age, sitting and watching television and the use of other electronic media (DVDs, computer and other electronic games) should be limited to less than one hour per day.
- Infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers (all children from birth to 5 years) should not be sedentary, restrained, or kept inactive for more than one hour at a time, with the exception of sleeping.
Staying active regularly is essential for good physical and mental health and wellbeing. This is true no matter how young or old you are. But the amount of activity varies, depending on your age. To help Australians understand how much activity they need, we have developed physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines for each age group and for pregnancy. These guidelines outline: Find the guidelines that apply to you. For infants, toddler and preschoolers (birth to 5 years) For pregnancy You can order the following printed resources by emailing or calling 02 6269 1080. Provide: Title Order ID number Make your move – sit less, be active for life – adults (18 to 64 years) NA0109 Make your move – sit less, be active for life – family guide NA0110 24-hour movement guidelines – birth to 5 years – brochure NA0116 24-hour movement guidelines – children and young people (5 to 17 years) – brochure NA0117 Physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines – pregnancy – poster NA0118 Physical activity and sedentary behaviour guidelines – pregnancy – brochure NA0119Physical activity guidelines by age
Read about how much activity small children should do each day, limiting sitting and screen time, and making sure they get enough sleep.
Read about how much activity children and young people should do each day, limiting sitting and screen time, and getting enough sleep.
Read about how much activity adults should do each day and limiting sitting time.
Read about how much activity should be done each day and limiting sitting time during pregnancy for the health and wellbeing of both mum and bub.
Read about how much activity older Australians should do each day, and how to build activity into daily life.
While there are no formal guidelines for people with disability and chronic conditions, being active is important for everyone. Find out what you can do to include activity in your day according to your ability.Order the guidelines
Summary by age
Children and young people
Recommendations | Under 12 months | 1 to 2 years | 3 to 5 years | 5 to 17 years |
Physical activity | Interactive floor-based play, and at least 30 minutes of tummy time for babies per day. | At least 3 hours of energetic play per day. | At least 3 hours per day, with 1 hour being energetic play. | At least 1 hour of moderate to vigorous activity involving mainly aerobic activities per day. Vigorous activities should be incorporated at least 3 days per week. Several hours of light activities per day. |
Strength | At least 3 days a week. | |||
Sedentary time | Do not restrain for more than 1 hour at a time. | Do not restrain for more than 1 hour at a time. | Do not restrain for more than 1 hour at a time. | Minimise and break up long periods of sitting. |
Sedentary recreational screen time | None. | Under 2 years: None. 2 years: No more than 1 hour per day. | No more than 1 hour per day. | No more than 2 hours per day. |
Sleep | 0 to 3 months: 4 to 11 months: This includes naps. | 11 to 14 hours, including naps. | 10 to 13 hours. Some will still need naps. | 5 to 13 years: 14 to 17 years: |
Adults
Recommendations | 18 to 64 years | Pregnancy | 65 years and over |
Physical activity | Be active on most (preferably all) days, to weekly total of: 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate activity or 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous activity or an equivalent combination of both. | Be active on most (preferably all) days, to weekly total of: 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate activity or 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous activity or an equivalent combination of both. Do pelvic floor exercises. | At least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most (preferably all) days. |
Strength | At least 2 days a week. | At least 2 days a week. | Do a range of activities that incorporate fitness, strength, balance and flexibility. |
Sedentary time | Minimise and break up long periods of sitting. | Minimise and break up long periods of sitting. |
How we developed the guidelines
We developed Australia’s physical activity guidelines based on:
- a rigorous review of scientific evidence from around the world
- extensive consultation with stakeholders, state and territory governments, and national and international experts.
We looked at how health is directly affected by:
- the physical activity people do – including the amount, frequency, intensity and type of activity
- the amount of time people spend sitting or lying down
- the amount and quality of sleep children and young people get.
We have summarised the scientific evidence that support each of the guidelines.