Tiny tots are always enthusiastic about moving and exploring new things. But it is extremely important on your part as well to ensure that your kid is leading a healthy life and stays miles away from turning obese due to inactivity. It may sound a bit of a demanding grind but you certainly don’t need to spend a lot of money on activities or classes for your small world to be on his twinkle toes. Here, we are listing down some healthy and fun physical activities that won’t only keep your toddler bright-eyed and entertained, but will also make him or her rolling and running in a healthy way.
1. Step outside
Irrespective of what the weather is feeling outside, taking your toddler out of the home and getting some fresh air will certainly perk your child up to get moving. You can take your kid to the nearby playground and allow him to jump, climb or run. However, if the park is far flung, you can think of playing a game of tag in your very own yard. You can also make it even more playful and interesting by getting riding toys or balls for throwing and kicking. Not only will these activities keep your toddler bushy-tailed, but also build pathways in his brain for the overall development.
2. Indulge in fun games
Although there are several interesting ways to keep your tot occupied, you can indulge in exercises such as ‘Walking the tightrope’ whereby your toddler will be required to walk together along the tightrope. This fun home game will help your baby develop balance while exercising the muscles of his foot. At the same time, ‘stretching’ exercises are highly beneficial too. These exercises will again focus on stretching your kid’s entire body and strengthening it. Another fun activity that you consider over is enabling your child to slowly call out the names of each body part. Asking your toddler to touch the body part will not only help him identify things in life, but will also enhance flexibility and the understanding of the concepts like what is up or what is down, or what is high and what is low.
3. Provide toys and play equipment
Toys can be another great way to stimulate health and physical activity in your toddler. You can provide your tiny tot with large building blocks, walkers, construction toys, balls and riding toys. It is important to ensure that your child gets into playful activities each day in order to stay mentally as well as physically in a fine feather.
4. Build fitness into your day
Try grabbing an opportunity to walk wherever you can along with your toddler. You can try and encourage your toddler to step out of his or her stroller and take a few steps as this will help your child sleep better and shed if he/she is falling towards obesity. Dancing on the tunes of nursery rhymes while learning them will also help develop gross motor skills in your kid. A walk to nearby garden will furthermore enable your kid to avoid the danger of obesity and other diseases that comes from lack of body movements. Introduce running in his lifestyle as this helps build leg muscles.
5. Obstacle course
Besides having your child stay engrossed through catching, throwing and rolling balls, you can practice obstacle courses as an active everyday game. While indoors, you can ask your toddler to navigate obstacle courses with pillows, furniture, blankets and boxes. If outside, then play with logs, rocks or playground equipments. Besides developing hand and eye coordination, these activities will help your toddler sharpen his acuity level.
6. Establish the right example
Lastly, the best way to turn your toddler full of life and healthy is by setting forth a right example before him. Focus on making family outings, adventures and involving walking and swimming in your everyday life. By observing you, your toddler is ascertained to learn several positive things from and thus, will march ahead with a healthy lifestyle.
