ParentingHub

Introducing your kids to the joys of exercise from an early age will not only benefit their health, but also open the door to a versatile range of healthy, confidence-boosting activities that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Children under five years old are like sponges; absorbing and learning from experiences they're exposed to. This is the ideal age to gently introduce a child to exercise. Kids this age use play to explore and learn about the world, By encouraging your child to engage in active play, youre helping develop a natural curiosity about how things work and how they feel in relation to things around them.

Toddlers are not developmentally advanced enough to partake in organised sports or be involved in competitive activities. They thrive on unstructured play, such as running, climbing, swinging, and playing - alone or with other kids. Supervised swimming is a good way to introduce your child to the freedom of water activities, and a healthy way in which you can interact with your child in the same play area.

Exercises should be fun rather than goal-directed, and provide an opportunity to develop co-ordination rather than focus on muscular strength. Encourage small movements using the large muscle groups, such as walking, running after a ball, hopping and skipping, and learning to ride a tricycle and/or a bicycle.

Playgrounds are very useful. Supervised play on a jungle gym builds upper and lower body strength and enhances co-ordination; playing in a sandpit develops the finer motor skills; and swinging develops balance and co-ordination.

Toddlers should not be pressurised to partake in physical activity. Encourage rather than force a child to play – a child that is forced will associate play with negativity, which counteracts what youre trying to achieve. Physical activity needs to be an exciting pastime that the child looks forward to and loves doing.

Such an approach establishes a good foundation for a positive approach to physical exercise in the years to come.