Preschool Kids & Fitness June 17
There was a time when parents didn’t worry about their preschoolers getting enough exercise. After all, kids that age are a bundle of energy that don’t ever seem to stop being in motion so they naturally get all of the exercise that they need, right? Wrong. It was probably always true that kids needed more exercise they were naturally getting but it’s even truer today, when technology has created more sedentary activities for children as young as toddler age.
Television, video games, computers … these are tools that, when used correctly, can help improve your child’s life. They can give him or her new skills, be used for educational purposes and appropriately entertain your child at certain periods throughout the day. But these tools come with a price (or several, but we’ll focus on one) and that price is lack of exercise. With more sedentary options available, young children are exercising less. We’ve all heard that obesity is increasing and we know the risks that come along with that. Don’t let your child become a victim early on; make sure that he or she has a daily routine which incorporates regular fitness.
Luckily, it’s not too difficult to get kids to exercise. Fitness is fun at their age. They like to be out, running around, playing games like tag and taking risks on the monkey bars. Find out which activities interest your child the most and make sure that you make them a regular part of the day. For some families, this could simply mean a certain amount of outdoor / playground time each day. For other families, a more structured activity like a tumbling class or a preschool sport may make more sense. Fitness for kids just means getting them moving so do whatever is right for you and your kids.
And when we say “you and your kids”, that’s precisely what we mean. If you want your kids to understand the importance of fitness, you really need to make sure that you practice what your preach. Get out there and play ball with your kids or take a class that lets you and your children engage in fitness activities together. By modeling good exercise behaviors, you’ll show your children that fitness can stay fun at all ages. And by enjoying their fitness time with them, you’ll make it that much more fun … for both of you!
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