While we often hear that kids should be getting 60 minutes of physical activity per day, this actually only applies to kids over the age of 6. The US institute of Medicine actually recommends 3 hours per day of physical activity such as running, climbing, walking, etc. This doesn't mean that it all has to happen at once, but all children ages 2-6 should get a total of 3 hours per day to avoid childhood obesity which affects 26.7% of young children in America.
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/10/16/3-hours-daily-exercise-suggested-for-young-children/
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/10/16/3-hours-daily-exercise-suggested-for-young-children/
So here are some ideas to keep your young child fit and moving!
- Take daily family walks. It’s a good way for the family to work off dinner and have conversations about the day’s events
- Visit the East Side marketplace indoor park when the weather is bad
- Make art in a BIG way, like helping kids draw in chalk on the sidewalk, or using a mop and water on the driveway to make BIG water pictures!
- Use scarves, tissue paper or even socks to do some creative dancing to your child’s favorite music
- Make an obstacle course in the living room… The carpet is hot lava and we have to get from here to there by climbing!
- Have races in the yard. What ways can you race? On tip-toes? Crawling? Hopping?
- Blow some bubbles and let your child pop them all
- Use masking tape on the carpet to make a road and help your little one make a car out of a cardboard box and watch them hit the road!
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