Toddler Biking

Toddler Biking

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

• Small tricycle or riding toy with 3-4 wheels

Instructions

  1. Go for a walk with your toddler riding alongside.
  2. Stay on sidewalks of quiet streets and park pathways.TIP: Make sure your child always wears a helmet.

    TIP: This basic “wheeling” helps develop balance and leg strength.

Variations

• With toddlers ages 3-4, consider introducing them to a balance bike (two wheels but no pedals)

Benefits

This activity develops balance, coordination, and strength in the legs in preparation for more advanced cycling activities at older ages.

Toddler Ball Rolling

Toddler Ball Rolling

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

• Soft plastic ball 10-20 cm in diameter
• Clean indoor floor area
• Preferably carpet for comfort

Instructions

  1. Sit on the floor with your toddler sitting between your legs.
  2. Both you and your toddler face another adult or older child sitting on the floor.
  3. With your legs spread apart, gently roll the ball back and forth between your toddler and the other adult or older child.
  4. Encourage your toddler to “catch” the ball by receiving it with both hands.

Variations

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Benefits

This activity develops hand-eye coordination, gross motor control, and the ability to track moving objects. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve moving objects (e.g., balls, pucks, shuttlecocks, frisbees, ribbons, sticks, batons).

Toddler Balance Walk

Toddler Balance Walk

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

• Outdoor space with natural and man-made obstacles
• Playground equipment may be suitable
• Low garden walls, benches, raised curbs, and dry logs are good

Instructions

  1. When walking outside with your toddler, find simple structures such as park benches, low garden walls, raised curbs, and dry logs.
  2. Encourage your toddler to climb onto these low structures and walk along them.
  3. Hold your toddler’s hands at all times.

Variations

• As your toddler shows confidence walking with balance in one direction, encourage them to turn and change directions while walking and balancing.

Benefits

This activity develops dynamic balance in preparation for all walking and running activities at older ages.

Picking Up Things

Picking Up Things

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

• Outdoor nature environment such as beach, forest or park

Instructions

  1. Go with your toddler for a walk in a natural space (beach, forest, park, etc.).
  2. Encourage your toddler to find interesting things to pick up and investigate (e.g. stones, sticks, leaves)
  3. Watch to ensure your toddler does not pick up anything unsafe.TIP: This simple activity develops balance and coordination in bending down to pick things up.

Variations

• In your home, encourage your toddler to help you in activities where you are picking up things around the house
• Picking up books and putting them on a shelf
• Picking up toys and putting them away
• Picking up clothes for the laundry

Benefits

This activity develops coordination of legs, arms and torso, plus dynamic balance. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve dynamic balance and coordination for lifting and lowering objects (e.g., weightlifting as a sport, and all daily lifting activities in general, plus combative sports such as wrestling and judo).

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror

by | Apr 18, 2020 | Fitness Activity

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Requirements

  • Open space
  • Two partners

Instructions

  1. In Mirror Mirror, two partners face each other. One person is the “mirror master” and makes body movements. The other person must copy or “mirror” the movements.
  2. For the first try, stand facing your child with a small space between you.
  3. As you wave your arms, jump, step, wiggle, bend or otherwise move, your child must try to “mirror” your movement.
  4. After your child has imitated you for a few minutes, let your child be the mirror master.
  5. Try different fundamental movements such as hopping, jumping, spinning, skipping, and running on the spot.

Variations

  • Try different movement themes – the mirror master can imagine he or she is a hockey player, a firefighter, James Bond, or anyone else who does a lot of moving.

Benefits

This activity develops coordination and balance as kids try to imitate the movements of their parent or play partner.

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