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Toddlers and Physical Activity
An Expert Answers Parents' Most Common Questions
By Rae Pica, Children's Physical Activity Specialist
When I first began my work as a children's physical activity specialist 28 years ago, people had no idea what I was talking about when I told them what I did for a living. The most asked question then was something like, "You mean you work with children with special needs?" They couldn't imagine why there was any reason to focus on physical activity for young children without special needs.
Today, with childhood obesity one of society's greatest problems and children living increasingly sedentary lives, the idea of focusing on physical activity for all children suddenly doesn't seem so odd!
Here are some of the questions I'm now most often asked:
Thanks to new insights in brain research, we now know that early movement experiences are valuable to optimal brain development. In fact, early movement experiences are considered essential to the neural stimulation (the "use-it-or-lose-it" principle involved in the keeping or pruning of neurons) needed for healthy brain development. However, that doesn't mean parents and caregivers need specialized knowledge, fancy equipment or a lot of money for programs. Getting back to the basics – running and jumping, dancing in the living room, playing catch-me-if-you-can – will do the trick!
Developmentally appropriate organized programs can offer little ones and their parents opportunities for socialization, and those involving physical activity can ensure that children have the chance to regularly play and move. Don't assume, however, that you must
