Early Action Pays Off
Learning to live an active lifestyle as an adult starts with childhood lessons.
Experts note that a growing trend toward more sedentary lifestyles is not only an adult problem. The unhealthy habit may extend all the way down to toddler days. When researchers monitored the behavior of a group of 3-year-olds, the time the tots spent being active was far less than the recommended amount.
Activities for infants:
Physical activity is important for the development of infants and toddlers. Be sure infants and toddlers do not spend too much time confined to strollers, car seats, or infant seats. Your infant should spend at least a portion of each day being physically active in an unconfined, safe and supervised space. Giving them time to wiggle around freely and to interact with other people and things helps ensure that they reach important physical development milestones on time, such as rolling over and crawling. Physical activity also helps with cognitive development. Rolling around on a blanket on the floor with toys and supervision is one way to provide activity. In addition to this, some infants enjoy infant jumping seats or infant rolling chairs.
Activities for kids aged 1 - 4 years:
Physical activity can greatly benefit the development of toddlers and preschoolers. Movement experience is important at this phase because this is when kids begin to acquire basic physical skills. Your toddler or preschooler should be spending time acquiring simple skills, such as walking, running, jumping, skipping, and stair climbing (under supervision depending on age). Certain physical activities such as throwing and catching also help them to develop hand-eye coordination. In general, your toddler or preschooler should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time except when sleeping.
Activities for kids aged 5 - 11 years:
Teaching young children and preteens to be active can help make exercise a lifelong habit. If you can teach your kids to enjoy sports and exercise at this stage, they are more likely to stay active. There are a variety of physical activities that kids can engage in at this age, from structured sports participation, such as tee ball, gymnastics, and golf, to unstructured playtime outside with siblings or friends. Children who prefer not to participate in competitive sports or team sports still have a variety of physical fitness options available to them, such as recreational swimming and dancing. One of the few physical activities not recommended for children of this age is weight training.
Activities for kids aged 12 - 18 years:
Teens with young adult bodies can benefit greatly from regular exercise. This is a critical time in their physical activity habits. Many kids become less active during this stage of life. One of the best things you can do is be an example to your child by exercising regularly on your own, as well as with your child. The options for children this age are numerous, from competitive sports such as running, basketball, and volleyball to non-competitive activities such as rock climbing, ice-skating, and skateboarding. Weight training, under supervision, also can help kids in this age group build strong muscles. In addition to being active in their leisure time, teens should aim for at least 60 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week.
