Now that your child is a toddler, she or he is no longer content to play on a blanket with a few toys! We’ve put together a weekly planner of physical activities to help your child develop their motor and mental skills and ensure she or he gets the right level of activity.
| Monday | Today, help your toddler explore understand his or her body and the different ways it can move. Toddlers new to walking are capable of less than even those who have been walking just a few months. Your 1-year-old will probably crawl on hands and knees up the stairs, for example, while your 2-year-old will probably be able to use the handrail and walk up the stairs. Encourage your child to try things she or he hasn’t done before and this will ensure motor skills develop quickly. A good way to start exploring movement like this is with a game of follow the leader. There’s no better role model than you. |
| Tuesday | Toddlers naturally love music and there’s nothing better to get their little bodies moving and shaking. One of the easiest ways to incorporate physical activity into both your lives is to pick a few random songs at intervals throughout the day and just dance like crazy. Even just two or three songs quickly add up to a 10 minute session, which is just right for your toddler’s attention span. If you’re looking for more ways to explore dance with your toddler, think back to the songs and nursery rhymes of your own childhood and share those. If you don’t remember the moves it’s not a problem. Your toddler will never know if you make them up! |
| Wednesday | Today, focus on all the physical activities you can do outside. This will offer you both the maximum opportunity to move and be active as well as introducing her or him to the sounds, sights and smells of the outdoors. If you have a yard, that’s great, but if you don’t, head to a park or other public space or just take a walk around the neighbourhood. If you feel like you’re running out of games to play and things to do, take along a few toys and a ball to supplement your fun and a blanket to balance play with moments of rest. Tip: Leave the buggy at home! |
| Thursday | While the great outdoors is the optimal spot for moving those large muscle groups, it’s not always possible. Days that are too hot, too cold, too wet or with poor air quality can keep you cooped up inside. Don’t despair. Toddler bodies are small and there are plenty of things to do and games to play inside. You can set up an obstacle course with pillows and boxes or play games like hide and seek. |
| Friday | Moving is so much fun all on its own, but when you add props it only gets better. One of the most versatile items to add to your toddler’s repertoire is a ball. For young toddlers you can sit on the floor with your legs out, feet touching and take turns rolling a ball back and forth. Older twos will enjoy trying to catch, bounce and throw balls at a target or into a bucket. Another easy prop is a bean bag or you can cut a hole in a box or use a hula hoop on the floor for a target. A bell placed in the hoop adds an element of positive feedback each time the bean bag lands on it. Think about adding props to your dancing games too – streamers and balloons can add an exciting and new dimension. Just remember, you should be supervising your toddler at all times during these play days, as bean bags, buckets, bells and hoops can all be hazardous without the proper attention. |
| Saturday | Don’t overlook your toddler’s emerging independence and abilities. Although it will, of course, be easier and quicker for parents to do everything themselves, allowing your toddler to help in the smallest ways helps teach them important skills. Allow her or him to observe you at first. Call her or him into the kitchen when you’re tidying up, for example, rather than let them watch television or remain in her high chair or at the table. Allowing your toddler to be by your side and talking as you perform each task, helps them to learn. As she or he becomes more confident, let them do one small thing until they do it well. Once they have mastered that task, you can add another to the repertoire. |
| Sunday | Take some time today to talk with your toddler about the physical things that he or she likes to do. If your toddler isn’t very verbal, use your own observations of activities that they liked or disliked in the past. Use this information gathering as a springboard for planning physical activities that your toddler will not only enjoy, but will stick to doing in the future. |
Please remember that this is just a guide. The important thing here is to be active and engaged with your toddler; interacting with them in a variety of interesting ways. At the end of the day, you are the best example when it comes to getting your child moving. Even just talking to your toddler about activities plants a seed. It’s positive reinforcement every time a toddler hears you talk about exercise (both physical and mental). If you’re not very active then chances are your toddler won’t be either. Lead by example and let your toddler see you engaged in activity.
