Obesity among children in the United States has tripled in the last 20 years. Obesity causes social problems for children and often leads to diabetes, heart disease, and musculoskeletal problems in adulthood. Preschool fitness is one way to help prevent childhood obesity and improve children’s health.

By age three, most children can go up and down stairs by alternating their feet, throw overhand, and jump in place. Most four-year-olds can catch a bounced ball, pedal a tricycle, and jump with a running start. By five, most children can skip, leading with one foot; roll like a log; and pump their legs on a swing.

Physical education activities like running and playing tag help young children stay physically fit. Family activities like walking, sledding, and biking help children enjoy exercise.

Parents can take other steps to make sure their preschoolers learn about and practice fitness activities:

* Give children at least 60 minutes a day for active free play. Let them run, climb, throw, dig, jump, and pedal until they are tired. Riding toys, balls, and swing sets can help them stay active. Toys should be age-appropriate, for example, a fat bat and wiffle ball instead of a hard wood bat and ball.

* Plan at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity each day. Teach children dance and game-playing skills. Enroll them in yoga classes for tots, swimming classes, or gymnastics classes. Classes should focus on having fun and building skills, not on winning or losing. (Organized sports are better suited to older children.)

* Children learn both gross and fine motor skills at preschool age. They need help learning to coordinate their movements. Parents can help by encouraging them and providing constructive feedback.

* Strictly limit TV and computer use. Experts say preschool children should not sit in one place or lie down for more than an hour at a time, except when they are sleeping.

* Read books about people who are physically active, like mountain climbers, hikers, farmers, dancers, and athletes.

* Parents should set good examples by making exercise and fitness regular parts of their lives.

Preschool exercises that help build gross motor skills (large muscles) include swimming, marching, hopping, balancing, pulling or pushing wagons, and throwing and catching soft balls. Classic kids’ games like Follow the Leader, Red Light/Green Light, and Simon Says also help build gross motor skills, as do building and playing with obstacle courses.

To develop fine motor skills (small muscles) preschoolers can take clothes on and off dolls, lace cards, string beads, art projects, play in sand, or do puppet shows. Finger plays like Itsy Bitsy Spider are also good for building fine motor skills.

It may seem that children learn how to use and coordinate their bodies all on their own, but teachers and parents can definitely help. Preschool fitness activities help children develop skills and habits that they can use throughout their lives to stay healthy, fit, and mentally alert. Besides, it’s so much fun to play with young children and watch them play with each other.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Preschool Fitness.

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How To Change Our Schools So That All Children Succeed – Part 3 – Early School Readiness

There is no exact profile for what a child should be ready to do or know, prior to entering school. Children should be able to recognize letters, count to 20 or higher, write his/her name, know where he/she lives, and read or pretend to read. Parents can help their child be ready for school by reading to them and helping them to recognize words, teaching them letters, teaching them how to count, teaching them how to write their name and simple words. Parents can also (if available) enroll their child into a good preschool program. But, this does not mean that you allow someone else to take over the responsibility of teaching your child the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic. You are your child’s first teacher.

There are many wonderful preschool programs across the country. Many of them are connected to local schools. Check in your area to see what is available. Spend time at your child’s preschool to be sure that your child is getting the education you are hoping for. Find out how many of the employees have some form of education beyond high school. Ask questions of the director to see if they offer parenting classes, informal gatherings (to meet and greet with other parents), what is the curriculum, are they accredited, and do they do home visits. A good preschool will have some kind of booklet which will address all of your concerns.

Children who find reading difficult in school are often children who have not had exposure to reading prior to school. Take your child on a trip to your local library. Find out if they hold story time and schedule yourself and your child to be there. Allow your child to check out easy books, picture books, books with few words, and even books that just have pretty pictures in them. Let your child read a book to you. It doesn’t matter if they can read the words, what matters is how they view the book. Easy reading material develops fluency and provides practice in using good reading strategies.

I would also suggest that you order children’s magazines for your child. There are many wonderful magazines available for the very young through the teen years. They prompt reading, writing and often peak interest in different areas. When my daughter was young, she had subscriptions to several
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different magazines. We also made a point of purchasing the Little Golden books at the grocery store each week. Of course, the price of those have gone up (we paid .29 per book), but she loved reading them over and over.

Another great way to educate your child is to allow them to watch certain children’s shows. Sesame Street teaches children letters, numbers and even foreign languages. Between the Lions teaches children letters and reading. Both of these shows also teach social skills and pride in oneself. There are many other shows available for young children that influence them to read. Make sure that the shows your child is watching simulate them in a positive way.

All children can learn to read. It takes time to learn anything. Take the time with your child to teach them. Remember, as the parent, you are your child’s first teacher. It is essential that children have many opportunities to read. Reading opens up an entirely different view of our world. Expose your child to many books, magazines and words.

By: Wendy Greif

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Wendy Greif is a mother and graduate of USF in Special Education. She has taught children with various disabilities in both South Carolina and Florida. Mrs. Greif operates an informational website for parents and caregivers of children and/or adults with special needs ( www.specialneedschildrenandadults.com ).

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