Help! How do I help my little one to be healthy?
With so much government information about the subject leading to general public awareness about what's good for you and what isn't, the buck really does stop with us parents!
Many supermarkets are promoting healthy food with money-saving offers and recipe ideas for encouraging our little ones to eat healthily. But what can we do about exercise for little ones before they go to school, or even as babies?
Parents and carers are taking time out of their busy weeks to enjoy healthy activities such as playing in the park and running around the garden - although these are not quite so appealing on a wet and windy day! There are several soft play centres around and many leisure centres run sessions for little ones both in and out of the swimming pool.
Look out at your local village hall for exercise classes for babies and pre-school children which run at child-friendly hours during the school term-time. Often, these classes put together a mixture of exercise, music and busy activity to keep little ones on the go. Babies from as young as three months can be offered yoga exercises with songs and equipment to stimulate all the senses as well as tone those muscles!
The older children can enjoy piles of brightly coloured balls, ropes, balancing apparatus, parachute games and obstacle courses to control their energies into constructive play and learning. Check that the classes are put together by teachers qualified in Health Related Exercise for Pre-School Children so they really know their stuff!
The main thing to remember is that in terms of exercise, anything is better than nothing! So even a manic game of hide and seek around the house or dancing to your child's favourite CD (groan) is helping to make your little one not just a happy child but a healthy one as well!
This article has been contributed by Jumping Beans, a local company holding fitness classes for babies and pre-school children in the Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge areas and across the Weald.
For further information, please call Sarah Gaddie on 01424 882684 or Melanie Clarke on 01580 213476 - they run brilliant, active parties for 2 - 8 year olds as well!
Article written by the Jumping Beans team for Summer 2008 issue.
