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GROWIE's Preschool Development Corner Series 10

Physical Fitness And Your Growing Child

It is important to help your children develop healthy and active lifestyles from a young age. But how do physical activities compete with television and computer games for your child’s attention?

It is a general misconception that young children are already physically active, so little attention needs to be paid towards increasing their level of fitness. Such disregard can impede a child’s learning and development of lifelong healthy habits. It can also lead to childhood and adult obesity as well as other health problems.

Instead, we should encourage our children to adopt a positive attitude towards physical fitness. The following handy tips should come in useful:

You Are The Role Models!

Preschoolers love to imitate and may already be starting to model after their parents’ lifestyles and behaviours. Remember that good habits are often caught, not taught.

Exercise regularly and share your interest and enthusiasm for sports with your children. This will send a message that keeping fit is important, influencing them to believe in and commit to physical fitness.

Set Routines And Achievable Goals

Exercising at random is not sufficient and does not reap much benefit. Set a routine and plan a timetable for your children; enrol them in a sports club where they can attend regular classes that interest them.

Make sure that the goals you set for your children are realistic, so that they can enjoy a sense of achievement. Goals that are too tough will not motivate most children.

Get Outdoors!

Prevent excessive television and computer viewing by taking your children outdoors, for example to the playground, park or beach. Here, they can have unlimited opportunities to burn off calories and have fun doing so. Jog, walk or ride with your children, following their pace. Whatever activities you choose to do with your children, make them interesting and enjoyable so that they are motivated enough to leave the TV or computer aside.

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