Help your toddler get active

Active toddler

Parents are being advised to give their toddlers at least three hours of exercise a day as part of a government anti-obesity drive.

Under- fives should be encouraged to walk on trips to nursery or the shops and babies should be given the opportunity to kick around on their play gyms say the guidelines issued.

By 2050, it’s predicted that almost two-thirds of children could be too heavy for their height and British children have been shown in studies to be amongst the worst.

The advice issued by England’s chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies follows research linking early exercise to physical and mental health and aims to get children out of car seats and buggies and on their feet.

‘Play that allows under-fives to move around is critical and three hours a day is essential. I think there are parents who are not aware how important it is for their children to be physically active. Other parents are very busy and may not see how important it is to get that prioritisation and balance right,’ said Dame Sally.

Suggested activities include activities that make them ‘huff and puff’ such as running, playing chase, swimming, skipping, riding a bike and scaling a climbing frame. Babies should stretch and roll on activity mats and be taken swimming.

What do you think? Does your toddler get enough exercise or do you struggle to find the opportunity?

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Barefoot Birmingham

Hi there!

Barefoot Birmingham is a boutique and personal yoga and wellbeing studio based in Harborne, Birmingham - you can find out more on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BarefootBirmingham

We offer a great pregnancy yoga class which involves gentle hatha yoga with breathing, visualisation and relaxation, specifically designed for mums-to-be. it helps you embrace and strengthen your changing body and prepare for birth, motherhood and beyond. All welcome, even if you have no previous yoga experience. If you already have an established yoga practice, the class will enable you to continue safely throughout pregnancy. If you are new to yoga or exercise you should wait until you are into your 14th week of pregnancy.

We also offer Karate Kidz, fun way to introduce children five years and up to the art of karate. Helps improve confidence and concentration but also a great after-school energy release! Classes are run by Sensei Mark Harvey 3rd Dan, fully insured & CRB checked.

Yoga Bugz - recently featured on The Young Apprentice! - is a great way to exercise and calm your young ones! Have a look at YogaBugs for more info.

We would like to launch a new series of Pregnancy for 2013 so if you are interested please get in touch to let us know! You can post a response here, call us on 0121 426 2633 or just drop us a line at info@barefootbirmingham.com. For Karate Kidz and Yoga Bugs just book them via our website - barefootbirmingham.com and clicking on Book Now!

We look forward to seeing you in the studio soon!

Posted: 19/01/2013 at 21:57

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