Exercise: Swimming and Outings

Many pre-schoolers are television junkies and already too fat. If this is the case with your child, it's important that you do something about it and the sooner the better. Exercise habits must be established early, so that your child becomes active and fit. Here are some specific suggestions that will get her off her backside and help her develop strength, agility and stamina, and will also burn up calories:

• Swimming. With proper instruction your child should be able to learn basic swimming skills and water safety. It's a good idea to check with your local "Y" about their beginner classes. Swimming is terrific exercise, great to help keep your child physically fit.

• Family outings. I would strongly suggest that your whole family do things together. Activities such as hiking, climbing hills and jogging are fun for everyone and well within the capacity of most pre-school age children.

• Wrestling. Besides swimming and family outings to keep your pre-schooler active and exercise-oriented, another terrific activity is wrestling. It exercises all your child's muscles and increases strength and flexibility. It also allows you and your child to have fun together. I would advise you to call frequent rest periods, if not for your child, certainly for you. Use a bed or the floor with a rubber mat. Get your child involved with friends of her own age. Little children are imaginative and invent all sorts of games that require running, jumping, racing, tagging, etc.

• Soccer is an excellent game. It features running, twisting and jumping - ideal for developing physical fitness.

Finally, encourage any activity that keeps her moving. Walking instead of driving to school, taking the stairs instead of an elevator and chores such as sweeping the floor, taking out the garbage and making her bed. Remember, "couch potatoes" start early in life.

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