There's no doubt about it. Summer is the time for some well-deserved rest and relaxation for children and parents alike — the preschool year has ended, fun vacations are scheduled, the wading pool is set up and beckoning. But just because the summertime pace can be slower, that doesn’t mean that everyone’s activity level has to grind to a halt. Summer is a wonderful time for families to take to the outdoors and play and move together.

The importance of play and movement for healthy development

Physical movement is essential to healthy growth and development in young children. A position statement by the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education points to the many benefits of encouraging young children toward active, free play. These include:

• Providing them with time to interact with children their own age and learn important social skills they’ll need as they enter school and in life, such as cooperation and taking turns.

• Allowing them to make choices (Do I want to crawl through this tunnel again or try tumbling down the hill?) to plan and expand their creativity.

• Learning to cooperate, share and use language to resolve their differences with friends.

• Learning to respect rules, develop self-discipline and respect other’s differences.

• Forming friendships. (Do you want to ride on the tire swing with me? Here, use my shovel to dig in the sand.)

• Reducing stress. Physical activity allows for a mental change and release of energy that can make children less disruptive and better able to focus on more passive activities like reading and drawing.

• Practicing skills, such as running, climbing, throwing and catching, kicking, balancing and stretching — all important for healthy gross motor skill development.

• Learning through the active, hands-on exploration of their world. Fueling the brain with a healthy supply of blood and providing brain cells with natural substances that enhance brain growth and help make important connections that allow the brain to process and store important information. This leads to a greater understanding of ideas and concepts and better learning.

• Experiencing the sheer joy of movement. All of the physical activities that children do naturally have the added effect of strengthening the muscles they will need when learning such skills as reading and writing in school. Unfortunately, physical therapists and teachers who work with young children are finding that more and more children are beginning school without the proper strength and physical development to take on new learning challenges. This leads to such problems as an inability to hold a pencil properly, slouching  or an inability to hold the head upright and make proper eye contact with teachers and classmates.

A 1999 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that 10 million American children (one in five) are overweight and that a record eight percent of children are overweight by preschool age. Forty percent of young children have significant risk factors for heart disease, such as obesity, high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Much of this is due to inactive lifestyles.

Increased television and computer use (both passive activities), confining daycare environments and preschools that emphasize academics (with children sitting for lengths of time) over free play and physical exploration are all prime suspects. Also at fault are poor food choices. 

Hey baby get movin'

Recently, the National Association for Sport and Physical Education released the first-ever physical activity guidelines for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. In its report, the association recommends that all young children be involved in a variety of age-appropriate physical activities beginning at birth that develop their motor skills and spark a life-long willingness and ability to exercise. Here are some suggestions:

• Infants should be encouraged to explore their environments and be given opportunities to become skillful movers through rolling over, sitting up, standing and walking. Children should not be confined to a stroller, car seat or chair for more than 60 minutes a day, except when sleeping.

• Toddlers should have safe places to roam, indoors and outdoors, and get at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily. This can be as simple as loading up a toy backhoe with rocks and dumping its contents all over the back lawn or playing on bikes and other kid-powered riding toys. 

• Preschoolers should have at least 60 minutes of structured physical activity daily and several hours of unstructured movement. This might include activities like ball games that involve rolling or catching, swimming, gymnastics, dance, or simply following friends on an obstacle course around the backyard or park.

Creating active habits that last a lifetime

The need for well-planned physical activities, this doesn't mean that your preschooler needs a personal trainer. Most of what children need in terms of physical activity can happen in the context of daily play and routine activities. Here are some fun activities for you and your children to try together: 

• When planning summer family outings and vacations make sure that they include opportunities for activities, such as hiking, bicycling or swimming. 

• Involve your children with household chores that require physical exertion, keeping in mind their levels of strength, coordination and maturity. Such chores as raking cut grass, helping plant flowers and vegetables (it's amazing how kids who turn their noses up to them at dinner time will gobble up peas and tomatoes fresh from the garden), sweeping floors and making beds not only teach responsibility but are also good exercise. 

• All of the mixing and kneading involved in baking a loaf of homemade bread are great for improving strength in the large muscles of children's arms and torso, as well as those in the hands and fingers. At the following website for the King Arthur flour company you will find wholesome, kid-friendly recipes for bread the whole family will love: www.kingarthurflour.com.

• Longer hours of daylight make summer a great time to work after-dinner walks into your evenings. Use this time to talk about your day or observe the wonders of the season. 

• Take advantage of local recreation opportunities like soccer leagues or fun runs for preschoolers. Many local organizations and nature preserves sponsor outdoor recreation activities for families with young children, such as swimming and active games, hiking trips, and even bird or bat watches.

• Dance, dance, dance. Pop on a recording of whatever music you and your children like and get ready to get down. The local library is a wonderful resource for new types of music to try with your budding Barishnikovs.

Some other ways to encourage physical activity...

  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a position statement urging families to avoid television viewing for children under the age of two. For kids over two, the AAP suggests limiting combined TV and video viewing and computer use to one to two hours a day. Help children fill their non-media time with active pursuits.

Choose fitness-oriented gifts - a jump rope, beach ball, t-ball stand with ball and bat or swimming goggles. When choosing gifts for your children or their friends, keep their skills and interests in mind.

For permission to reprint this article, please contact the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service by e-mailing dbushsuf@gw.neric.org.

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