Preschool Kids & Fitness

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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