Preschoolers Need Physical Activity Too

By News Canada

(NC)-It is never too soon to get kids eating well and moving more. With childhood obesity on the rise, it is important to get kids active early in life.

According to physical activity guidelines for preschoolers recently released by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and according to the Public Health Agency of Canada's Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth, (available at www.paguide.com) children need the following:

Structured playtime. Preschoolers should get at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity daily. Structured physical activity includes games and activities that adults direct or do with toddlers or preschoolers.

Unstructured playtime. Preschoolers should get at least 60 minutes, and up to several hours of unstructured physical activity, daily. Unstructured physical activity is supervised free time for children to play actively on their own or with other children. They should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time except when sleeping.

Some activities include:

• Mommy-and-me programs.
• Walk like a penguin, hop like a frog, or imitate other animals' movements.
• Sit facing each other and hold hands. Rock back and forth and sing the song "Row, row, row your boat."
• Bend at the waist and touch the ground. Walk your hands forward and inch along like a caterpillar.
• Sit on the ground and let your child step over your legs, or make a bridge with your body and let your child crawl under.
• Play "Follow the leader" or "Ring around the rosy" and other similar games.
• Listen to music and dance together.

Concerned Children's Advertisers has recently launched a program entitled "Long Live Kids" that provides tools and tips to parents, educators and even directly to kids to get more active and eat better. Visit www.cca-kids.ca for more information.