Forming healthy habits starts during a child’s early years and lasts a lifetime. A study conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found young children who are overweight during their early years are more likely to be obese later in life. Raising healthy children is more than eating nutritious foods and watching portion size, it also includes encouraging physical activity.

Exercise is fun, especially when the whole family is involved. In the spirit of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County offers age-appropriate exercises for children to stay active with their families.

Children Up to One Year Old

It is important for babies to play and be active. Physical activity helps babies develop their muscles and encourages them to explore the world around them.

• Place your baby on his or her stomach for “tummy time” to help build neck and core muscles and prepare for crawling
• Practice crawling with your baby outside on a blanket
• Stretch your arms and wiggle your toes together

Children One to Two Years Old

When toddlers are active, they learn about their bodies, fine-tune their basic motor skills and sleep better at night. Physicians recommend toddlers participate in an hour and a half of daily activity for healthy development.

• Play follow-the-leader, making sure to hop, jump and crawl along the way
• Toss a ball with your toddler and practice coordination skills
• Playfully chase your child in the house or on the playground and hug your toddler when you catch him or her

Children Three to Five Years Old

At least two hours of physical activity a day helps young children build their muscles as well as their imaginations. By exercising together, both you and your child stay physically fit and spend quality time as a family.

• Dance to music
• Play your favorite childhood games, such as hopscotch, leap frog and hide-and-seek
• Go on a walk or hike to explore the outdoors

For more family exercise activities or to learn about FIRST 5 Santa Clara County programs and services, call (408) 260-3700 or visit www.first5kids.org.

FIRST 5 Santa Clara County has partnered with First 5 California to offer additional parenting tips through its free, comprehensive resource, Kit for New Parents. To order your free Kit, call (800) KIDS-025.

About FIRST 5 Santa Clara County

Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years and what parents and caregivers do during these years to support their child’s growth will have a meaningful impact throughout life. Based on this research, California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998, adding a 50 cents-per-pack tax on tobacco products to support programs for expectant parents and children ages 0 to 5. FIRST 5 Santa Clara County will distribute approximately $31 million in fiscal year 2007-2008 in Prop. 10 revenues to programs and services that meet local needs.