Just wondering how you ensure your toddler gets enough activity? I have read that 2 hours is the required amount for a child.
Physical activity, how do you get your toddler to get enough?
- cazaj
- NSW, Australia
- Total posts: 397
- Former Member
- -
Just wondering how you ensure your toddler gets enough activity? I have read that 2 hours is the required amount for a child.
My kids dont sit still from the minute they get up till they go to bed at night... so I dont worry about them getting the "required amount". They are outside at least several hours a day running round, jumping on the trampoline and swimming.
- boofarama
- NSW, Australia
- Total posts: 892
As Happy head said, if they play outside for a couple of hours each day, they'll be fine. That's easy! If you have a backyard!!!
When my eldest two were younger we lived in a unit but I just made sure that we went to the park every couple of days and we also went to playgroup, storytime at the library and Mainly Music. All of these involved dancing and playing games.
We had a huge undercover carpark at our unit block which nobody used so I would take them down there to ride their trikes on hot or rainy days.
Other things I used were DVDs which encourage kids to get up and dance/ move to the music using certain actions.
The Wiggles DVDs were great when they were really young and some of the ABC DVDs are good too.
But really most toddlers get their daily required exercise thorugh play. Typically if their playing a couple of hours a day, they're getting all the physical activity they need.
When my eldest two were younger we lived in a unit but I just made sure that we went to the park every couple of days and we also went to playgroup, storytime at the library and Mainly Music. All of these involved dancing and playing games.
We had a huge undercover carpark at our unit block which nobody used so I would take them down there to ride their trikes on hot or rainy days.
Other things I used were DVDs which encourage kids to get up and dance/ move to the music using certain actions.
The Wiggles DVDs were great when they were really young and some of the ABC DVDs are good too.
But really most toddlers get their daily required exercise thorugh play. Typically if their playing a couple of hours a day, they're getting all the physical activity they need.
- Bug, Squidy and the Bean
- NSW, Australia
- Total posts: 305
My kids love the trampoline, sandpit, cubby, wading pool, swingset etc.
While we are lucky to have a decent sized yard, these could all be "downsized" for a courtyard or unit. All can be purchased to fit an area of 1-1.5m2
*You can buy the mini tramps with a handle to hold onto. Toys R Us have these
*Plastic "clam shell' pools are available at Bunnings, Big W, Kmart, Toys R Us can be used with water or buy a small bag of sand from Bunnings or Toys R Us.
*Small plastic cubbys &/or gyms are available from most toy stores/department stores.
*You can purchase a single swing on a frame from Toys R Us. Also plastic toddler swings are readily available from toy/department stores and can be hung from a tree or strong beam (we have ours hanging from two bolts with eyes in the ends, through a beam under the patio, my brother had his in his lounge room hung the same way).
While we are lucky to have a decent sized yard, these could all be "downsized" for a courtyard or unit. All can be purchased to fit an area of 1-1.5m2
*You can buy the mini tramps with a handle to hold onto. Toys R Us have these
*Plastic "clam shell' pools are available at Bunnings, Big W, Kmart, Toys R Us can be used with water or buy a small bag of sand from Bunnings or Toys R Us.
*Small plastic cubbys &/or gyms are available from most toy stores/department stores.
*You can purchase a single swing on a frame from Toys R Us. Also plastic toddler swings are readily available from toy/department stores and can be hung from a tree or strong beam (we have ours hanging from two bolts with eyes in the ends, through a beam under the patio, my brother had his in his lounge room hung the same way).