How to Involve Toddlers in Fitness

According to Michelle May, M.D., an advisor to the American Academy of Family Physicians' Americans in Motion fitness initiative, one in seven preschoolers is already overweight, and the number rises in the elementary- and middle-school years. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education reports that preschoolers should have several hours of free play daily plus 60 minutes of supervised, structured physical activity. Even if your children's weight isn't an issue now, it's important to teach them the importance of physical activity at a young age.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Games to Increase Flexibility and Strengthen Muscles

1. Teach them fitness from A to Z. Alphabetize some moves. For example, "B is for bend...way down, touch the tip of your toes!" or "G is for grab...see if you can grab this big flag!" Sing "The Alphabet Song," and ask your child to chime in with his own exercises.
2. Set the pace. Ask your child sto how you how slowly a turtle moves and how fast a horse runs. Then explain that you'll call out "Horse" or "Turtle" and see whether she can move accordingly, quickly changing her tempo when you switch animals.
3. Create a wheelbarrow obstacle course. Set up a simple obstacle course on a soft surface. Hold your child by the ankles and let him slowly walk on his hands, navigating the challenges.

Improve Hand-Eye Coordination and Strengthen Muscles

4. Play "Which Way?" Roll a ball toward your child, then call out directions on how they should kick it - softly, hard, far away, toward you, toward the fence or wherever you designate.
5. Take the lead for "Stick With Me." When walking on sand, dirt, or snow, trail a stick after you as you turn, double back and move in a zigzag pattern. Ask your child to follow your trail, then pass him the stick and let him lead.
6. Employ some carnival fun. Ask your preschooler to help you draw a funny face on a large cardboard box, then cut out big circles to toss beanbags through. Another option is to label holes with the letters of her name and see whether she can throw the bags through in the right order.

Enhancing Large Muscle Groups

7. Use examples from the animal kingdom. Ask your child to walk like an elephant, leap like a frog or fly like an eagle to get her whole body in motion.
8. Sing for fitness. Transform familiar nursery rhymes or songs into simple fitness activities. For example, sing "Hickory, Dickory, Dock," and have your child pretend he's a mouse running and a clock swinging its arms.
9. Play with the trees. Pick a tree and ask your child to jog up to it, then run around it. See how many different ways she can "play" with the tree - such as jumping over its roots or swinging from a low, strong branch.

Tips & Warnings

• Add some zip to your child's toy box to motivate him to move. Some suggestions are Playschool Kid Motion Easy Dunk Basketball, Ready Set Learn! Paz's Jump & Dance Mat and Step To It, a game where players pick cards that require them to walk, hop or jump around the house.