Lift, Jump and Run

Exercising with Your Toddler

By Charlene Torkelson, Fitness Expert

Few new mothers consider how easy it is to build great upper body strength after the birth of their child – you are always holding and lifting your little one. And as the child grows and gains more weight, the amount of exercise you get from ordinary everyday activities with your child is tremendous.

When your child begins to walk – starting the toddler stage of life – the opportunity for parent/child fitness is quite exciting. After all, your child is just beginning to discover the benefits of walking, running and movement. Your activities together give you the perfect situation to encourage fitness in your child's life and to enjoy more exercise for yourself.

Strengthen your own upper body by doing some fun lifts with your child. Remember to lift through your legs rather than bending over and pulling up, which puts strain on your back. Begin with a few simple lifts. With your child in front of you, hold on to his hands and lift him a few inches off the ground. The up and down motion will make him laugh and will build your muscles.

If you have mastered the basic lift, try the same lift with a bit of a swing back and forth. You might even suggest that your child lift her feet so her knees pull up toward the chest like a tucked ball. When they lift the knees, this strengthens their stomach muscles as you swing. Make sure they remember to stretch out their legs again before you lower them back to the ground.

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