“It’s not motivating for a kid to be stuck on a treadmill,” she says. “For children, playing is exercise,” Razzaq says.Ĭhildren don’t always need structure, she says, they like to have fun while they exercise. And that can be done in several 10-minute bursts, she says. So how much daily exercise do children need? She recommends 30 minutes for toddlers and an hour for older children.
Razzaq says that with children younger than 2, the main thing doctors can recommend is limiting sugary drinks - something she says should be done with all children. The oldest clients are 21 and the youngest are 2.
Razzaq’s clinic, which helps overweight children, is seeing referrals for younger and younger patients.
At a very early age, children usually aren’t self conscious about performing in front of others. Programs outside the home can be particularly helpful for children who seem shy. Most of the time, children aren’t ready for a competitive environment until they’re well into elementary school, perhaps between 8 and 10, the pediatrician says. Caregivers and leaders should “make the programs fun and noncompetitive these children are very young.” A child shouldn’t have to endure “being grilled or a coach screaming.” (When parents are included they count as caregivers, or as Razzaq puts it, “they promote a good bond and promote good supervision.”)ĭoes the facility look safe and clean? Are there any sharp corners or other hazards? Those who want to enroll their children in a program should look at how many caregivers there are. Obviously, toddlers can’t ride bikes or jump rope. First, the activities need to be age and developmentally appropriate, Razzaq says. She has some pointers for parents who aren’t sure where to start. Razzaq says that simply playing tag or hide-and-seek help children stay active. And they’ll have fewer risks for diseases that are linked to obesity, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, she adds.įor those who can’t afford to enroll in gym or gymnastics classes or can’t make the time, playing at home or the neighborhood park can be beneficial, too. They’ll develop strong bones, agility and confidence, even be able to concentrate better in class, she says. “Parents end up being good role models when they’re active themselves.”Ĭhildren who exercise and eat healthful foods early on will reap a lifetime of benefits, she says. Samiya Razzaq, a general pediatrician and director of the Fitness Clinic at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. “Exercise plays a role in physical and mental development,” says Dr. Instead they try to instill healthful habits and can be beneficial long after the toddlers are making their own exercise decisions.
Many incorporate gymnastics or tumbling moves, even dance or cheer - exercises that teach children to move but don’t focus on competition or rules. Similar programs around the state from Arkadelphia to Jonesboro target children as young as 18 months - with names like Tiny Tots or Tiny Tumblers or Mom and Me classes. The 45-minute class, for children from 19 months to 3 years, is one of a number offered by The Little Gym in west Little Rock for children from 4 months to 12 years old. Meanwhile Mansur, the gym director and instructor at The Little Gym of Little Rock, explains to the mothers how the exercise helps the children learn to share and listen. There’s running and walking, bell-shaking and singing. Once the roundup is complete the warm-up commences. Mom doesn’t budge.Īnd then there’s another little one, who will go unnamed at the request of her mortified mother, who’s taking a break to, ahem, tend to something in her nose. “Mom, help me,” she calls, one foot dangling off a very low balance beam. Macy seems stuck on the parallel bars, and a little girl named Elizabeth is bent on drawing her mother’s attention.
LITTLE ROCK Erin Mansur doesn’t have the full attention of her class.