Kid Fitness: Take Your Toddler Outside

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

16 Dec 2006 12:49 PM

In our urgency to protect our children from the world, we may go too far and protect them from the environment and keeping them cooped up in the house. We may overdo it and then television becomes a substitute for real experience and it's important to remember that going outside for your toddler is going to be as hard as getting a bird to fly - they only need one thing: you. Toddlers love the outdoors, they love to go out and play and walk and run and dance. They love the grass and how it feels against their feet. They love to run their fingers over rocks and to explore the great world around them. All you need to do is open the door and take them out there to explore. There is a lot your toddler can do outside including:

• Kicking balls around
• Climbing on the jungle gyms, the monkey bars or even on trees
• Playing hopscotch
• Riding a tricycle
• Walking, hiking or even snow shoeing

Too often our toddlers spend their days watching television. Now, I do not think the television is bad for our kids, but I do believe overdoing anything can make it bad. So if your child's only access to the beautiful outdoors is what they see on television then it should hardly surprise you that when they get outside - it's probably hard to get them indoors again.

A friend of mine takes her toddler out for long walks every day. She's done this since her toddler was a baby. They started with the baby in the stroller and graduated eventually to letting her toddler along as she walked. So, take up the challenge in the coming months and take your toddler outside - let them explore the world and to taste the fresh air and touch the soft grass and learn.

Do you take your toddler outside to play?

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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