This post is a guest post
There are fun ways to incorporate physical activity into the daily life of your toddler. Taking a stroll in the fresh air and sunshine will expose your toddler to the benefits of Vitamin D. Just be sure to always use sun block to protect skin, both yours and baby’s.
Another great idea for a toddler is a day at the park. What could be better or more effective than exercise that doesn’t feel like it? There are slides, swings, sandboxes, monkey bars and so many other playthings available for a child to run out that excess energy and get a great workout in the process. As a parent, watching your toddler running around with a smile on their face is about as good as it gets. Knowing your child can have fun while maintaining good physical fitness is just icing on the cake.
A key to good health also involves good eating habits. While an occasional treat is perfectly alright, it is the daily food choices that contribute to overall well-being. No one likes to eat food that doesn’t taste good, particularly toddlers, who are more likely to be picky eaters. As a parent, there are things you can do to make healthy food more appealing to a child. If its vegetables, perhaps low fat cheese will make the food more palatable. For cereal, pick those that are naturally sweetened and use low or non-fat milk. Other kid pleasing foods that are healthy include oatmeal, fruit, eggs, and peanut butter. One caveat: only give a child older than one year peanut butter.
Be careful with the calories and sugar that comes in your child’s beverages. Low and non-fat milk is a good choice but not all day. Juice is another source of extra calories. Water is a far better choice since it provides needed hydration, but isn’t a source of empty calories or teeth rotting sugar.
Kids get into messes all the time, but there are many things a parent can do to ensure that their toddler stays healthy. Every toddler can learn to master the act of keeping their hands clean. Hand hygiene plays a big role in helping a child stay healthy. Anywhere a child comes into contact with another child, there are germs. Helping prevent the spread of disease is something every parent can proactively participate in. If a child is known to be sick, skipping playtime can keep others from getting ill. Anytime children share toys, keeping those toys sanitized is essential. Teach your toddler to cover their coughs and sneezes, as well. Another simple thing is keeping a small bottle on hand sanitizer with you at all times for when a sink and soap is unavailable.
All of these things will help keep your toddler safe, healthy and physically fit. Every child benefits from having a parent actively involved in making good decisions for them. And every parent benefits from having a healthy and happy toddler.
Related articles
- Your Toddler’s Nutrition (enfamil.com)
- Feeding Your Toddler (enfamil.com)
- Toddler Feeding FAQ (enfamil.com)
- Tricks for Toddler Healthy Eating (enfamil.com)
- Feeding Toddlers: Feeding Chart, Meal Ideas, and Serving Sizes (webmd.com)
About The Real Supermum
my son HATES his hands being dirty and will say “Oh mess” then we go through and clean them
we can hardly get him to sit down most days he loves running around playing with his football in the hall, or with his cars or even a balloon (he is 23 months)
we encourage him to walk as much as he can and put him in the buggy when he is tired
Low fat or non fat milk as a drink is incorrect – Children under two should be given whole milk to drink as it is crucial to their growth.
great post…. my favorite tips through summer or winter that dont cost a thing is to collect leaves sticks etc from the woods and make a collage and races are fab,… drink wise my son had full fat milk till he was 2 now semi skimmed.. water and fresh juice.. raisins and bannanas are fab source of energy and so is oats as its slow release. x
What a great post! My 30 month old walks a mile to nursery 3 times a week while his baby brother is in the pushchair, but on the way home from nursery, he gets in the pushchair as think walking a mile then spending 3 hours at nursery then to walk back home is way to much even for my 30 month old x x
A good blog. Especially raising the awareness of the good habit that is teaching children to cover their hands when coughing or sneezing. This should be made into a leaflet, and handed out to nurseries/playgroups, to encourage mothers to learn this. Then there wouldn’t be so much risk of infection. xx
There’s nothing better than wrapping up warm and going for a nice walk. My kids would spend hours messing about in piles of crunchy leaves in the Autumn. Throwing them, kicking them, making dens out of them…
It is so important to try and get outside everyday if you can – even if it’s 5 or 10 minutes in the garden.
We had a paddling pool in our garden one summer, my boys decided to stand on one of the sides and let the water run out on to the grass, making a muddy puddle. Well, they spent hours jumping in this muddy puddle in just their trunks – the mess was incredible, my lovely lawn was turned into a mud bath but the look of fun on my boys face’s was so worth it!
MyLO loves being outside, think he would be out there 24/7 if he could!!!
He eats healthy but does occasionally get a treat!!! He still has full fat milk!!! =]
xXxXx
Emma l we do the same we have a huge park/wood area near us and we collect leaves and sticks and we paint with them, both my kiddies love exercise and walking x
My children love being outside, we have a park just round the corner from us and they love to ride there bikes there and spend hours running around with other children. Even on rainy days we have a dance round the living room they just cant sit still. I am lucky really as they love there fruit and vegetables. They eat healthy and have a very active life and imagination
My eldest hates anything on her hands. If there dirty she has to wash them straight away which is quite amusing really.
Food wise. She prefers fruit & veg over chocolate, sweets, crisps & biscuits. Anything fatty. Although she loves having a treat.
I sometimes wonder weather my kids are too active sometimes lol I can’t swim but we still go swimmin :/ x x x
my son loves to wash his hands, hes very active, but hes a awful eater at times! hardly ever eats fruit, hes ok with veg, but will have stages where he wont eat anything but ask for crips cakes and biscuits!
I try to get reanne to have the best of things she’s always eating fruit and she’s not that kneen on chocolates really..she has vitamin sweets too and when weather is ok she’s outside too x
great post!! my LO is only 17 months and at the moment he’s at the stage he doesnt sit still!! lol but luckly at the moment he loves all fruits and vegtables xx
Thanks for great tips will bare this in mind wen lo is bit older x
great post, most of all it lets kids be kids x
Kids will be kids are these are some fab ways to get them to stay active whilst still being a kid! Love it! Xx