This month, your therapist will be reviewing the Health, Wellness and Physical Development learning standard. Research has shown that too many young children are eating inappropriate foods with too many calories. As caregivers of such young children, we should promote a healthy lifestyle, which will provide a foundation for life-long healthy habits.
This is a terrific time to teach your children about healthy foods. Model healthy eating or shop at a farmer’s market. Take advantage of our local farms and go pick cherries, apples, strawberries, tomatoes and peaches. Have you tried cooking or making salads with your little ones? This is a great way to introduce fruits and veggies. Plan menus that offer healthy foods while limiting snacks and desserts to nutritionally-appropriate selections.
Let’s plan opportunities for exercise as our toddlers engage in active play. Remember that play is the best way for your child to learn. Summer is a terrific time for walking, hiking, swimming and ball play. Encourage them to walk up the hills and ramps at the zoo, rather than riding in the stroller. Our Erie winters can be long so movement games, obstacle courses, building forts and dancing can also extend the amount of time children are actively moving each day.
Since we are targeting health and physical development, use this time to highlight body identification activities. Your families can participate in games and songs such as the Hokey Pokey or Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Bathing dolls and playing with Potato Heads can be so much fun! How about cutting a large photograph of your child into pieces so they assemble the body puzzle? Have you made chalk outlines of their bodies on your sidewalk? See our Pinterest board for more ideas!
As parents of young children, you have the unique opportunity to introduce and sustain healthy choices and habits that will deeply impact your child’s ongoing development and school success. Good luck!