As a stay-at-home, part-time working mom, I'm always looking for new fun activities to do with my daughter, specifically ones that will get her up and moving. Then again, at 15 months old she always seems to be moving. But I believe in introducing healthy, active play habits young and involving myself in them as much as possible. While kids thrive on routine, I think it's important to change up play and introduce a variety of activities that get kids moving, learning and exploring
Here are some of my favorite ways to get my toddler active.
The Playground: What kid doesn't love the playground? I firmly believe that playgrounds are one of the best ways to motivate little ones to move. It's a big, safe place for them to run free, climb on structures and explore. I try to take my daughter a few times a week, but instead of always taking her to the same one, I try to switch it up and rotate among a few different playgrounds. This way, she doesn't get bored with always seeing the same setup, and the different structures and environments continue to help her fine tune her physical capabilities.
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Playing Ball: I love activities I can participate in, too, and kicking or passing a ball around is a great one. This gets toddlers up and moving while teaching them how to pass and kick a ball. It can also help introduce taking turns and sharing.
Sidewalk Chalk: Remember all those fun games of hopscotch? While your toddler may not be quite ready for that yet, sidewalk chalk is a great way for them to explore their creativity; coloring, drawing and learning colors all while moving around outside. This is another great activity that parents can get involved in, and you'll always have a beautifully decorated driveway.
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Indoor Play Gyms: Summer is all about sunshine and warm weather, but you there are always a few rainy days here and there. I go stir crazy being in the house all day, so I found a few indoor play gyms nearby that are filled with bouncy houses, ball pits, slides, ride-on cars and more toys than a toddler could dream of. Between running around, bouncing and exploring, my daughter doesn't stop moving, and she never seems to get bored. And I love scoring some extra cardio by jumping in the bouncy house with her, too.
Exploring Your Backyard: Kids seem to love rocks, sticks and anything else they can pick up and get their hands dirty with. My daughter loves running around our backyard collecting all sorts of fun stuff and giving it to me. Each time she hands me something, I explain what it is and she repeats it back. Your backyard is a great place for toddlers to explore, learn and move their bodies. From flowers, to pine cones, to rocks, my daughter continues to grow her collection, her vocabulary continues to expand and she logs a lot of steps while doing it.
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