Helping Kids Grow Strong Through Exercise

It’s important for little ones to focus their energy on activities that will help them build gross motor skills — movements of large muscles like the arms, legs and torso. Gross motor skills help the body hold position and coordinate large muscles. Those movements then help hold the body steady so the child can accomplish fine motor movements. For example, a toddler learns to sit or stand first, and then they use fine motor skills to stack a set of blocks.

Dr. Sarah Bosslet, a pediatrician with Riley Children’s Health, says that these movements complement each other and help with overall development. “Children’s brains develop rapidly, and during that rapid growth, it is crucial to ensure they have the opportunity to use and develop all of their muscles,” she says.

Bosslet suggests encouraging children to participate in 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity each day because it increases blood flow through the body, which is crucial to healthy development of the heart, lungs, bones and brain. Physical activity should be fun so children will stay engaged and committed to it. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is helping by introducing Preschool Muscle Movers. “This program provides an opportunity to get moving with your little ones in fun ways that encourage them to embrace high energy, so they can better focus on productive things, warm-up their core muscles by flying like a superhero and discover exercises that target the gross motor skills,” says Caleb Bailey, director of Sports Legends Experience.

If you’re stuck inside due to weather, here are suggestions for ways to encourage your little one to exercise. Use masking tape, mark spots on the floor for long jumps, hopscotch and reach and stretch activities. Don’t let the ball touch the ground; bounce it around from person to person like a volleyball game without a net. Create an indoor obstacle course or tennis match by using a balloon and a piece of cardboard to toss it around. Play cornhole in the basement. Dance parties and hikes are also great forms of exercise. Whatever the activity, it should be something fun that also helps burn energy.

Sports provide an incredible opportunity to teach valuable life lessons and promote social and emotional learning. Through the museum’s partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance, all of the museum’s coaches are certified Double-Goal coaches, which acknowledge that winning is important, but it is more important to learn life lessons through sports.

Parents can help children develop positive self-esteem. Instead of asking, “Did you win? How many points/goals did you score?” Ask things like, “Did you give it your all? What did you learn today? Did you have fun? What can we improve next time?” If a child is struggling, adults can encourage them with comments like, “I enjoy playing with you. I really like how you approached the ball. That was a strong kick. Mistakes are OK. That is how we learn. Let's try again.”

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