Dear Dr. Debbie,
My son will be two in a couple of months. He’s in near constant motion unless he’s sleeping, and even then, there’s rolling and kicking. Both his dad and I were active on sports teams, but not until elementary school. Would you recommend sports for a child this young?
Road Runner’s Mom
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Dear RRM,
Physical activities, yes, sports, no. A not-yet two-year-old is not yet ready to follow drills and rules. What he is ready for, would be parent-child classes with other parents and toddlers and lots of physically active fun with his family.
Gymnastics /Tumbling
Look for a weekly class for children his age. The teacher’s activities might give you ideas for how to use items at home to continue building your child’s strength and coordination.
Lie on thick carpet and do the log roll. Mark a line on the floor with tape and use it like a balance beam – walk forwards, on tiptoe, sideways, and backwards! If his interest holds, extend this game of “Follow the Leader” to include crawling under the table and climbing up and down steps. Roll a ball back and forth while sitting in a “V” on the floor. Toss a dishtowel in the air and catch it. With each of you holding opposite sides of a bigger towel, bounce a small ball on top of it. Take cushions off the couch and jump from one to the next. Clear the room (or go outside) and move like different animals, taking turns to call out the animals!
Baby Swim Class
Aquatics classes are similarly offered by age group for beginners accompanied by an adult. There’s no age too early for learning how to safely be in the water. Water is also lots of fun! Lessons for little ones include getting comfortable by blowing bubbles, kicking to make the water splash, and other progressive skills that will lead to standard swimming strokes.
Be sure to plan extra time after class just to enjoy being in the pool together. In the baby pool or shallow end you can practice walking on your hands, legs stretched out behind. If allowed, bring pool toys to retrieve from the bottom – where it’s deep enough that you have to hold your breath to get them. While you’re at the pool, point out the older children learning strokes in a class or swimming laps with the team and a coach. If you and Daddy take turns being the baby watcher, your little one can watch you swim laps. Swimming is great exercise for the whole family.
Music
Most music classes for toddlers combine music with movement. After all, it’s hard to keep still if there’s a good beat! Ask around to see which teachers are more likely to lead the children in marching and dancing along with clapping and playing rhythm instruments such as sticks, drums, and tambourines.
As with tumbling class, take examples from the teacher for continuing the activities your child enjoys between the weekly classes. Push back the furniture and put on a variety of music for dancing. Sock-footed or barefoot will work fine for dancing on carpet. Bare feet or shoes are better for a hard surface. Add a silk scarf for each of you to use to expand your body’s movements of musical expression. Use an upturned wastebasket for drumming. An empty water bottle makes a great shaker with a couple of pebbles or beads inside; just be sure to only let your child use it under supervision or glue the bottle shut to prevent ingestion of the tiny pieces.
Playgrounds and Parks
Spring weather beckons us outdoors. Are you familiar with your local parks and playgrounds? Get recommendations from neighbors for those closest to home. Many of Anne Arundel County’s parks include trails and playgrounds. Some offer nature walks and nature programs for preschoolers, but for now, spend time going on the trails at your son’s pace. Be sure to pack water and healthy snacks, a diaper and a change of clothes, just in case, so you aren’t in a rush to leave.
Bring a beach ball to kick back and forth or a Frisbee to toss and return in wide open spaces. If you’re near a high school, learn the schedule for using the track. When not in use by students, tracks, athletic fields, and playgrounds on public school grounds are considered county recreation areas open to all. The soft track is ideal for a toddler to use for practice with his riding toys and eventually a balance bike or a scooter. You might get in a couple of jogging laps while you’re there.
Whether or not you have a future athlete on your hands, your child’s physical activity is to be supported for many other reasons. It’s good for his health. It builds self-confidence. It’s a wonderful habit to instill for lifelong benefits (including stress relief). And most of all, it can be enjoyed as a family.
Dr. Debbie
Deborah Wood, Ph.D. is a child development specialist and founding director of Chesapeake Children’s Museum.
The museum is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Online reservations are available or call: 410-990-1993. Each Thursday there is a guided nature walk at 10:30 am. Art and Story Times with Mrs. Spears are on Monday mornings at 10:30 am.
This coming weekend, Chesapeake Children’s Museum is one of over 50 sites across Anne Arundel County participating in Maryland Day Weekend with all activities $1 or free!
Read more of Dr. Wood’s Good Parenting columns by clicking here.