Physical Fitness for Your Child

As a growing child, your toddler has a wide variety of needs. Besides proper nutrition and mental stimulation, a healthy child needs exercise. Regular exercise keeps your child in the pink of health and regulates his body weight.

Here are some tips to help keep your child fit and healthy:

• Play in the yard/at the park
  An active child is usually a healthy child. If you have a garden or live near a park, be sure to take time to bring your child there. Physical games like hide and seek not only develop his muscles, but also the nerves in his brain.
  
  
• Dance to the music
  The two of you can even exercise in bad weather. Dancing to his favourite cartoon soundtrack or nursery rhyme can be equal parts fun and exercise.
  
  
• Work out together
  Look for simple exercises you can do together. It can be simple yoga poses, or even light aerobics or stretching exercises. At this stage, your child loves to imitate. Doing this together creates greater bonding and better health.
  
  
• Invite his friends
  You can play host to a sports session and invite his friends. Swimming, cycling, or even just bumping balloons into the air can be hours of entertainment and exercise.
  
  
• Sign up for a class
  Find out what your child likes, and enrol him into a class he is interested in. Choose physical courses such as dancing, swimming, or gymnastics. Be sure not to overdo it though. One to two classes a week keeps it interesting for him.
  
  
• Give him energy
  Provide him with ample nutrition so he can have energy for more. In particular, magnesium is a nutrient that is used by the body in 300 different ways. Many of these involve giving your child that energy boost.

These tips are not exhaustive, so find out what works best for you and your child. Remember: a happy child is a healthy child!