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Lift, Jump and Run
Exercising with Your Toddler
By Charlene Torkelson, Fitness Expert
The next coordination exercise might be kicking a ball. With a rubber ball that is medium sized – too small or too large may create problems for small feet – kick the ball back and forth. Then try some other exercises:
- 1. Roll the ball on the ground, allowing your child to kick the ball back to you.
- 2. Kick the ball so it heads toward a goal or object such as a net, tree or pole. The object of this exercise is to kick the ball in a straight direction and for a given length of space.
- 3. Kick the ball around a course just as you did with the running. Kick the ball to the tree, run over and kick it to the step and then run around the bush. You might even mix up your activity by first kicking to the tree, then throwing to the parent and then running around the bush and back to the start.
Activities such as these help your young child learn the importance of exercise and movement while having fun. The example you set for your child lasts a lifetime.
