Does your child get enough exercise?

Updated April 16, 2014th

Small children are not an extra boost to have to move their bodies busy, right? It seems so, but do not add the amount of physical activity for preschoolers often. End of 1970, about 5% of children aged 2-5 years were overweight. Recently, this figure rose to almost 14%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention of disease. How to promote physical activity for preschoolers?

Recommend society health and physical education guidelines in the following format for young children.

Preschool (3-5 years) children should go:

• At least 60 minutes per day, physical activities cumulatively
• At least 60 minutes a day (and up to several hours) of unstructured physical activity
• To do no more than 60 minutes at a time sedentary activities, unless they sleep

For small children (aged 12-36 months), are the same, except for structured physical activity to 30 minutes a day instead of 60 add up the recommendations.

The doctrine of the movement for preschoolers

What is the game "structured" means? Young children need help in learning motor skills. Must pass through several stages of development to learn to coordinate their movements efficiently, throwing, catching, and so on. "There is a misconception that if you take the children to play, learn" on their own, said Jackie Goodway, Ph.D., Associate Professor of motor development and elementary education in physical education from Ohio State University professor. "But it's like reading. If you do not teach them to give feedback to them and to practice and learning opportunities appropriate" are not to master these skills.

While formal classes can be wonderful, Goodway said that parents are the best models. To promote physical activity and motor development of the child, spend time actively playing with him. They give positive constructive feedback ("Kick a little slower next time" or "I love how was your food"). Provide toys and age-appropriate equipment, like a wiffle ball bat and a fat plastic instead of heavy wood. If your child is in a class of movement enrollment ensure that it is compatible with their level of development. Children at this age are not ready for team sports, and should not waste time waiting their turn on the bench. Instead of a ball and 10 children, for example, each child should have their own ball.

Promoting physical activity with preschoolers

To ensure that your child his hour a day (or more) physical game, try:

• Day or hunting: For variety, hop, waddle, or dancing instead of running
• Catch or kickball (experiment with balls of different sizes and textures)
• Wash pool or other water sources, such as running a sprinkler system or the car
• A tricycle or scooter
• Crawl through a tunnel of cardboard box
• Dance scarves or ribbons that make it even more exciting,
• Internal obstacle: Creating an array of sofa cushions, rings (and jump off), aligned to form a tunnel or equilibrium chairs, etc.

_Sources:

Essential elements to prevent chronic diseases and obesity: physical activity and a healthy diet. Centers for Disease Control and prevention of disease. 15. April, 2008.

Active start: A statement of physical activity for children from birth to five years of leadership. National Association for Sport and Physical Education. National Association for Sport and Physical Education in the year of 2009.