How to Make a Origami Frog Easy Wikihow

Whether your toddler is uncontrollably hyper or a snuggler who'd rather curl up on the couch than run around, they need more physical activity than you'd think. Toddlers, or kids between the ages 1 and 3, need about 3 hours of free play every day, plus an hour of physical exercise that's planned and supervised.^[1] It might be hard to pull your toddler away from the TV or find the time to take them to the park, but encouraging them to exercise now will teach them healthy habits that last a lifetime.

1. 1

   Go on a nature hunt for leaves, sticks, and flowers. Take your toddler on a walk around the neighborhood or a nearby park and tell them to look for the best-looking leaves, flowers, sticks, and small rocks to make an art project with. Carry a small bucket and have them place their items inside. Once you've gone around the block or park once or twice, go back home and help your toddler glue or tape your nature treasures onto a big piece of construction paper.^[2]

   • This will get your child outside and moving around with a goal in mind, which can distract them if they don't enjoy walking.

2. 2

   Roll or kick a ball with them on the grass. Help your toddler develop their hand-eye and foot-eye coordination by gently passing a large, soft ball back and forth with your hands and feet. Try rolling or kicking it to either side of your child to get them moving. If they miss, race to see who can get the ball back first.^{[3] [4]}

   • If your child gets bored with rolling or kicking, you can try lightly tossing the ball to them. They won't be able to catch it yet, but it'll be a fun extra challenge!

3. 3

   Set up an obstacle course for them to run around with you. On a soft, grassy surface, use bushes, bags, cones, and toys to create a simple obstacle course. Run around it with your toddler and see who can finish first. For an added balance challenge, make it a wheelbarrow obstacle course: hold your toddler by the ankles and have them walk slowly on their hands through the course.^[5]

4. 4

   Look into parent-and-child swimming classes. Check your local gym and swimming pool to see what swimming lessons are available for you and your child. A lesson that includes both of you will make your child more comfortable and confident, but if none are available, sit close by the pool and encourage them when they need it. Aim for a class with 10 or fewer students, taught by an experienced instructor and with a lifeguard on duty.^[6]

   • According to the American Association of Pediatrics, children can safely take swim lessons when they're as young as 1 year old. Think about your child's comfort around water and if they're ready, emotionally and physically, to start learning to swim.

5. 5

   Go for a walk in the rain and jump in puddles. Bundle your child up in a raincoat and rainboots and go for a quick walk around the block. Encourage them to jump in and around puddles for extra exercise and splashes! Hold their hand as you walk to make sure they don't slip on the wet ground.^[7]

6. 6

   Bundle up and play in the snow during the wintertime. The snow comes with its own range of possibilities to get your toddler active. Teach them how to make snowballs and toss them at each other. Make snow angels on the ground and build a snowman together.^[8]

   • Before you go out in the cold, make sure your toddler is bundled up and warm! Help them into a thick, water-resistant jacket, ski pants, boots, a hat, and mittens.
   • Don't stay out in the cold for more than 30 minutes at a time. If the temperature is below −13 °F (−25 °C), or if the wind chill is −18 °F (−28 °C), keep your child indoors.^[9]

1. 1

   Challenge your toddler to move and "talk" like animals. Ask your toddler to fly like a bird, swing their "trunk" like an elephant, or jump like a frog. This will get their whole body moving, and get them to think and learn as well.^[10]

2. 2

   Have a dance party together. Put on some upbeat, kid-appropriate music and jump around with your toddler to the beat. Spin them around gently and show them a couple of simple, silly moves. Have a competition to see who has the best moves!^[11]

   • Put on fun songs that tell you how to dance to them, like the Chicken Dance or the Electric Slide.

3. 3

   Play hide and seek. Tell your toddler that you're going to go hide, and ask them to close their eyes and count to 50 before they come find you. Switch off and see who can find the other the fastest.^[12]

   • Don't play hide and seek if your toddler is afraid to be away from you. If they get scared while you're playing, come out and comfort them. Switch to another game when they feel better.

4. 4

   Toss a balloon back and forth and try to keep it up. Blow up a balloon and lightly bat it back and forth, encouraging your toddler to keep it off the floor for as long as they can. Toss the balloon so that it's easy for the toddler to reach and they aren't tempted to jump or dive for it.^[13]

   • If you have any balloons leftover, keep them in a secure place where your child can't reach, such as a high shelf or a locked cupboard. Balloons can be choking hazards for young children.^[14]
   • Don't play this game if you or your child is allergic to latex.

1. 1

   Park farther away at the store so you can walk a little more. If you take your toddler shopping with you, park at the far end of the lot and hold their hand as you walk in together. You can do this wherever you go together, whether it's the movies, the mall, or school. Your toddler won't even notice that they're getting a little extra exercise.^[15]

2. 2

   Encourage your toddler to walk instead of being pushed or carried. Your toddler might still be young enough to be carried or pushed in a stroller, but encourage them to walk when they can. Say something like "You're a big boy now, and big boys walk instead of using the stroller!" You can still carry them or use the stroller for long distances, but if you're just out for a short time, have them walk beside you.^[16]

   • You could also make a challenge of it. Say, "How long do you think you can walk for? I bet you can go for a whole 20 minutes!"
   • You can use child "reins" to keep them safe and under control. Look for them online and in baby stores.

3. 3

   Play games while you walk to keep your toddler entertained. Try counting different things, like airplanes, trees, birds, or black cars. Challenge your toddler to avoid stepping on cracks in the pavement, or to look for "treasures" like pretty stones or snail shells.^[17]

   • Distracting your toddler while they walk will make them more likely to enjoy the exercise.

4. 4

   Take your toddler to the playground. Give your toddler the chance to run, climb, and jump around a play structure for at least a little while every day for 20-30 minutes. Supervise your toddler to make sure they stay safe, and make sure they avoid activities that are high off the ground, like monkey bars. You could even get on the play structure and play with them!^{[18] [19]}

   • If it's too cold to go to a park, get creative! Make an indoor obstacle course or dance with them in the living room to help them get moving.

1. 1

   Let them see you exercising and having fun. Do yoga or Pilates in the living room, or set up an exercise bike. Show your child that you like to exercise and they'll be much more excited to do it themselves--they might even want to join in! Teach them a couple of easy yoga poses or show them how to run in place beside you as you use your stationary cycle.^[20]

   • Don't focus so much on them getting good exercise right now. It's more important that they have a good time and associate positive feelings with being active.

2. 2

   Talk to your toddler about how fun it is to move around. If you've just gone to the gym or come back from a run, tell your toddler how it went. Tell them if it was challenging or fun and what it felt like to be moving and pushing your body.^[21]

   • Say, for example, "Mommy just got back from a bike ride. I know I look sweaty and hot, but it was lots of fun to go down the hills and say hi to the people I passed!"

3. 3

   Limit screen time and encourage them to play instead. Your child is much more likely to be active if they spend less time in front of a TV, computer, tablet, or phone. Keep them down to 1-2 hours of screen time per day and use the extra time to play with them outside or in the house.^[22]

4. 4

   Read your toddler fun books and help them act out the action. Look for books that encourage interaction or movement. Read them aloud to your toddler and help them move through the motions. They'll learn new words, practice following the story along, and get moving. Some kids' books to encourage movement include:^[23]

   • From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
   • The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
   • Oh! by Kevin Henkes

Add New Question

• Question

  How do I get my toddler to enjoy exercise?

  

  Dr. Tiffany Jumaily is a Board Certified Pediatrician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP) based in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience in the medical field, Dr. Jumaily specializes in identifying the root cause of symptoms and presenting manifestations of disease. She holds a BA in Biology from Boston University and an MD from Boston University School of Medicine. Her dedication to combining evidence-based allopathic medicine with complementary and alternative therapies has led to her being featured and cited in various platforms including U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and CBS Los Angeles.

  

  Board Certified Pediatrician

  Expert Answer

  Give your toddler lots of free, unstructured outside. You might take them to a park and run around together, challenge them to mini races, or play ball with them.

• Question

  What is the best exercise for toddlers?

  

  Dr. Tiffany Jumaily is a Board Certified Pediatrician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP) based in Los Angeles, California. With over a decade of experience in the medical field, Dr. Jumaily specializes in identifying the root cause of symptoms and presenting manifestations of disease. She holds a BA in Biology from Boston University and an MD from Boston University School of Medicine. Her dedication to combining evidence-based allopathic medicine with complementary and alternative therapies has led to her being featured and cited in various platforms including U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and CBS Los Angeles.

  

  Board Certified Pediatrician

  Expert Answer

  Climbing activities are great! You might take your little one to a playground and encourage them to climb the equipment and go down the slide.

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• As your child gets older, start introducing them to more advanced exercises. At age 3-4, most children can start pedalling a tricycle, so you can take them to the park and run or bike alongside them.

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The best way to encourage your toddler to exercise is to introduce them to creative games that get their body moving. Challenge your toddler to fly like a bird, crawl like a bear, or walk like an elephant. Toss a balloon back and forth and try to keep it in the air. Set up an obstacle course with soft objects and challenge them to walk through it on their hands while you hold their ankles. Go for a walk and challenge them to count birds, trees, or cars. Read on for simple ways to sneak exercise into your toddler's daily routine!

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How to Make a Origami Frog Easy Wikihow

Source: https://www.wikihow.mom/Encourage-a-Toddler-to-Exercise

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