Contents:
- Medical Video: Strength and agility exercises for kids
- Why do children need to exercise early?
- Rules for starting sports for toddlers
- The type of exercise that is suitable for toddlers
- Age 0-12 months:
- 1-3 years old
- 3-5 years old
- What must be remembered before asking children to exercise
Medical Video: Strength and agility exercises for kids
The age of a toddler is the most important time to start instilling a healthy lifestyle. One way is to get used to exercise for your toddler to keep him active. Active life habits that have been carried out since early can bring a myriad of health benefits throughout his life. So, when should toddlers begin to actively exercise, and what types of activities can children do at this age? Check out the full guide in this article.
Why do children need to exercise early?
Familiarizing children with active exercise from an early age is very important for their health now and later. Physical activity will optimize the growth of bones and muscles of children, improve fitness and immunity, sharpen motor skills, to prevent children from the risk of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer.
In addition to maintaining physical health, exercise can also maintain a child's mental and psychological health. When children can participate well in sports, children will learn to control their emotions and feel satisfied with what they can achieve. So do not be surprised if exercise for toddlers can help him increase self-confidence while fortifying himself from the risk of stress and depression.
The Women's Sport Foundation also added that girls who are active in sports from childhood tend to show good academic performance while in school, because they have been trained to concentrate.
Getting used to exercise for toddlers as early as possible will also help hone the ability to socialize with others. Sports also help him develop positive character and personality, such as respecting others, tolerance, respecting and obeying rules, and being fair to each other. In the end, sports will shape children to be someone who is strong, reliable, strong-minded, and someone who is smart and responsive.
Therefore, let your child participate in sports. Let your little one feel the pleasure of playing with friends and exploring their abilities. Let him develop into a stronger individual not only physically, but also mentally and psychologically.
Rules for starting sports for toddlers
The tiny baby's body is certainly not ready to be invited to play football or play basketball in the field. The reason is that sports such as this require skilled motor skills for children to run, duck, throw and catch the ball, to maneuvers that combine hand and foot movements, such as running while jumping to throw a ball. These motor skills are generally only shown in children aged five years and over.
Therefore, according to the American College Sport and Medicine, the principle of exercise for toddlers is not like in adolescence or adulthood. Sports for toddlers are more emphasized to have fun activities, get to know new people around them, and learn new things.
The type of exercise that is suitable for toddlers
What needs to be taught to children in toddlers is all basic movements to support their motor skills so that they are more accustomed to exercising later on. This is a sports guide for toddlers, according to their age:
Age 0-12 months:
In the first 6 months, give stimulation to hold objects and hold them. Also teach the right, left, up and down movements; move your hands and feet more often; and do a pushing motion with the foot.
In the second 6 months, start giving stimulation movements to move with crawling, invite the child to move objects from the right and left hand, invite the child to play with the ball
1-3 years old
At the beginning of this age, give children plenty of opportunities to explore new places by walking. Every now and then you can slip in physical activities such as jumping, climbing (in a safe place), and running at close range. The goal is to train heart and lung fitness, and increase muscle strength and burn calories.
In addition, invite children to dance to the rhythm of the music or play snake-ladders or chariots that can stimulate their locomotor abilities, namely the ability to move all members of the body to move.
Perform this physical activity regularly, at least 30 minutes in one day.
3-5 years old
At this age, the child has been very steady walking and running. Therefore, you can provide a wider range of activities.For example, invite children to cycle, run a race to catch something, swim, and others.
At this age, while introducing children to various types of sports and begin to introduce movements that have not been mastered little by little. Perform this structured physical activity regularly, in one day at least 60 minutes.
What must be remembered before asking children to exercise
- Don't force children to exercise. if the child is forced, he will quickly feel frustrated and not want to do it again.
- Make the atmosphere of exercise fun so that children do not give up and want to learn other physical activities.
- Children learn by following what they see. Therefore, parents must be an example in terms of active life and diligent exercise, so that children follow what their parents do.
