8 Physical Activities to Boost Toddler Health
Author: Guest Post
To be physically active and have a balanced diet is the key to leading a long, healthy life. Healthy habits developed in toddlerhood are likely to stay with them for a lifetime.
That’s why it’s extremely crucial for parents or caregivers to encourage them to participate in physical activities from a young age.
Toddlers have a megaton of energy in them and in this article, I’m going to highlight some of the most effective ways to utilize that.
Presenting you 8 super-fun and tremendously beneficial physical activities to boost toddler health.
1. Dancing
I personally find dancing the most enjoyable form of exercise. Most kids are not going to say no to it, as long as you are playing their favorite music.
If you like doing Zumba, ask your toddler to join you. Dancing is an impeccable aerobic exercise. Apart from improving cardiovascular health, it also helps to improve muscular strength, balance, agility, and overall fitness.
Not to mention dancing your heart out is one of the easiest ways to trigger the release of feel-good hormones which helps us to destress and uplift the mood.
So, if your toddler absolutely refuses to put that iPad down, once a day, just play their favorite tune, and dance with them like there’s no tomorrow.
2. Cycling
A bike is undoubtedly one of the best outdoor toys you can give to a 5-year-old. Teaching your kid how to ride a bike is a great way to bond with them and the physical benefits of cycling are tremendous.
Cycling is a highly effective form of cardio. It also helps to boost core and leg muscle strength and improve joint mobility. For many kids, having their first bike is equivalent to getting that first taste of independence.
3. Running
Walking itself is an amazing form of exercise but I don’t think toddlers have enough patience for that. Due to their physical make-up, an average toddler has way more energy than an average adult.
Running for a few miles every day is one of the best ways to burn all that energy. However, not every kid has a Usain Bolt energy level, so I’d suggest letting them start low with jogging and gradually work their way up to full-fledged running.
Running or jogging is a fantastic full-body workout. Moreover, running or sports that involve a lot of running promotes endorphin release which makes them feel confident and content.
4. Swimming
Unless your toddler has a pathological fear of getting in the water, swimming can be a great physical activity for their overall health and fitness. It’s also a freaking amazing way to keep kids stay active and entertained in summer (under strict adult supervision, of course).
Like running, swimming is also a full-body workout and is especially useful for building endurance, strengthening muscles, and improving cardiovascular health.
Freestyle swimming for about half an hour can burn more than 300 calories as well. So, if you can motivate your tot to start freestyle swimming every day, their fitness will be the least of your worries in the foreseeable future.
5. Waterplay Activities
Splashing around the water everywhere is something most kids find amusing. Introducing a bunch of waterplay activities such as water relay races, dancing, jumping, and running under the sprinklers, racing with friends will let your kids have a blast while getting solid full-body exercise. When it’s summertime, the entire family can participate too and have a time of their lives.
6. Hopscotch and Throw Ball in the Basket
This fun toddler’s game is basically an upgraded version of hopscotch. It follows the standard rule of hopscotch with one extra activity.
The kids will have to hold a ball while hopping through the squares, all the way down to the end while holding a ball, and throw it into a basket sitting about 3 meters away from the last square.
It’s a brilliant workout for improving muscle strength, bone density, hand-eye coordination, and heart health. On top of that, you don’t need any special equipment for this, just bright and shiny weather, a bucket, a ball, and chalk to draw the hopscotch grid.
7. Jumping on a Trampoline
Jumping on a trampoline is fun and beneficial in equal measures, not just for toddlers but for older kids as well. Constant jumping is incredibly helpful in strengthening and toning all the major muscle groups in the body.
It’s not one of the most enjoyable ways to improve balance and agility and burn calories. It can also be a great way for your toddler to de-stress and channel their anger or any negative emotion they may feel into something productive.
8. Playing Tag
Playing tag is a moderate-intensity, easy-to-follow sport for \toddlers. It involves a lot of running, which, as everyone already knows, is one of the best forms of physical activity for kids and adults alike.
Playing tag with friends is an excellent way to learn strong communication and social skills as well.
Plus, it can be played both indoors (if you have a large space) and outdoors, and is exciting enough to keep children entertained for at least an hour.
In Conclusion
Toddlers are a powerhouse of energy. As long as you can get them into the habit of having some form of exercise for at least 1-3 hours a day at this age, the habit will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
That said, toddlers are also notorious for having the attention span of a penny. So, make sure to plan activities that align with their interests and most importantly, don’t let them overexert themselves.
