I am greatly alarmed by the latest statistics about childhood obesity. When I took my toddler to the park the other day, I was shocked at how many overweight kids I saw there. What can I do to help my kids keep a healthy weight throughout their lives?
You're wise to try to make active living a part of your child's life from a very early age. Human beings are, after all, creatures of habit: soon that daily walk around the block will seem as natural to him as brushing his teeth and listening to bedtime stories.
Here are some fun ways to get your toddler hooked on being physically active:
- Encourage activities and games that give your toddler the chance to work on his balance and coordination skills, e.g., stooping and retrieving toys from the floor while maintaining a standing position; walking while pulling a toy; kicking a ball or rolling it back and forth; and throwing a ball or a beanbag.
- Flip on some of your favorite tunes and dance with your toddler. You'll both get a terrific workout and have a lot of fun at the same time.
- Place a child-sized climbing gym in your living room or dining room so that it'll be possible for your toddler to fit in some physical activity on even the coldest or rainiest of days.
- Play "Jack in the box." Show your toddler how to curl up into a tiny little ball and then spring up like a jack in the box. Not only will he have fun yelling "pop" and trying to surprise you; he'll also be strengthening his legs, improving his balance, and increasing his spatial awareness.
- Make an indoor obstacle course using pillows, cushions, cardboard boxes, tables, chairs, and other common household objects. Then, on the next sunny day, put together an outdoor obstacle course instead.
- Teach your toddler how to play "over and under": crawl over couches and under tables. Or make a bridge with your body and have him crawl under your body or through your legs. Play "the zoo game." Pretend to be animals by imitating their movements: be a snake that's slithering across the grass, a kangaroo that loves to hop, or a bird that's flying around the backyard.
- Attach a large plastic beach ball to an elastic string and hang it from a doorframe. Your toddler will enjoy batting this "tetherball" around, and since the ball is so lightweight you won't have to worry about it doing any damage.
- Have a family relay race. Instead of passing a baton from person to person, pass along a teddy bear or other favorite toy. (If you're in a goofy mood, you could even rename the event the teddy bear race.)
