It's no secret that obesity has taken this country by storm and is a contributing factor to serious diseases like heart disease, diabetes, syndrome x, hypertension and others. What's most upsetting is that this epidemic is seriously affecting our kids. It has been said that this may be the first time that parents may out-live their children (Food Fight, Dr. Kelly Brownell). Obesity is caused by a combination of nutrition, inactivity, and genetic pre-dispostion. So what can be done to protect our children from the terrors of this condition? Since there's not much to do about our genes, fitness professionals must focus their education and energy on the two elements they can control....eating and activity. When it comes to fitness, kids are not miniature adults. They have specific physiologic differences that make them unique. Therefore, their fitness programs and activities must be specific to their developmental stage and not just a watered down version of an adult's routine. 

Chronologic age is a difficult marker to use when deciding on fitness activities for kids. Some children reach a particular stage earlier than others. Although there are no exact guidelines, this article will give you some great guidelines to use as you keep your kids fit. A wonderful reference on developmental fitness stages is Kid Fitness, by Dr. Ken Cooper. 

2-5 Years of Age

The Scoop: Kids between the ages of two and five years of age need social, physical, and intellectual interaction and development. These years are called the building block years, as they lay the foundation from which subsequent skills will grow. Free play, exploration, creativity, song, and exposure to a variety of experiences is critical. Ever wonder why kids at this age can't seem to sit still? They're learning about their bodies and how to control them in the space they live. Instead of restricting this by confining them to a couch with a video game, channel their energy in a more productive way- fitness!

By Debi Pillarella M. Ed.

Debi is a youth fitness expert and creator of the Adventures in Fitness for Kids curriculum. She is the national youth fitness spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.