Raising a Fit Preschooler

BY GERALD PUGLIESE

Obesity is on the rise, especially among children. A new study in Child Development reveals many children in preschool spend only 8% of their day involved light physical activity and just 3% doing moderate to vigorous physical activity, but the rest of the day, 89%, is spent sedentary and teachers were unlikely to encourage kids to be more physically active. But placing toys outside in open spaces made kids more likely to get moving;

by KidsHealth

Preschoolers have a lot of energy. Instead of just running around in the backyard, a preschooler has the physical skills and coordination to ride a tricycle or chase a butterfly.

Preschoolers are also discovering what it means to play with a friend. By being around other kids, a preschooler gains important social skills, such as sharing and taking turns. Despite occasional conflicts, preschoolers learn to cooperate and interact during play.

Helping Kids Learn New Skills

Preschoolers develop important motor skills as they grow. New skills your preschooler might show off include hopping, jumping forward, catching a ball, doing a somersault, skipping, and balancing on one foot. 

A brisk walk can be dull for young kids, so try these tips to liven up your family stroll:

• Make your walk a scavenger hunt by giving your child something to find, like a red door, a cat, a flag, and something square.
• Sing songs or recite nursery rhymes while you walk.
• Mix walking with jumping, racing, hopping, and walking backwards.
• Make your walk together a mathematical experience as you emphasize numbers and counting: How many windows are on the garage door? What numbers are on the houses?
• bike riding,
• skipping,
• climbing,

These kinds of activities are fun and also help to prepare kids for school.

Structured Play

Here are some more ideas for structured play:

• play bounce catch
• use paper airplanes to practice throwing
• balance a beanbag while walking — make this more challenging by setting up a simple slalom course
• play freeze dance
• play wheelbarrow by holding your child's legs while he or she walks forward on hands

Unstructured Play

Unstructured or free play is when kids are left more to their own devices — within a safe environment.

·        such as exploring,

·        playing outside or on playground equipment

·        dancing around the kitchen,

·        pretend play,

It's clear your preschooler is keeping an eye on how you spend your time, so set a good example by exercising regularly. Kids who pick up on this as something parents do will naturally want to do it, too.

Giving kids safe opportunities to play in both organized and unstructured ways builds a foundation for a fit lifestyle that can carry them through life.