A Toddler’s Exercise Program – A Recipe for Heart Health in More Ways than One!

I wrote this list when my oldest son, Eric, was about 4 years old. Eric was, and still is, a very energetic boy. One day it just struck me as very funny to think about how different we are as adults. If we were more like kids we could get rid of those extra Calories just going about our normal activities.

Have you ever wondered why your kids are so thin? Well, when was the last time that you:

• Did somersaults while watching a movie?
• Spent an entire day hopping on one foot everywhere you went?
• Begged incessantly to jump on a trampoline?
• Jumped on said trampoline, when given the chance, for a solid hour?
• Gotten on your bike and raced it to the neighbor’s driveway two doors down to do a couple of loops and raced back to do it all again….and again….and again……?
• Hopped up the stairs?
• Jumped down from the third step then ran back up to do it again…and again…and again….?
• Raked a sandbox?
• Shoveled the last remnants of snow off your lawn?
• Kicked your brother and sprinted off…..repeatedly?
• Asked to go outside so you could “get some energy out”?
• Ran ANYWHERE aimlessly and without care?
• Ran through a sprinkler?
• Pretended a play golf club was an axe and whacked stuff – hard?!?
• Climbed up and down off the table in your Doctor’s office?
• Climbed up and stood on a chair – not to reach anything – just to, well….I don’t know why?
• Crawled across your kitchen table?
• Crawled on your countertops?
• Crawled anywhere other than into bed?

Just picture yourself or other adults spending their days moving like a toddler! If we did spend our days like this it would be great for the heart in more ways than one!  Maybe there is something to be learned from our kids – joy where we are AND burn some extra Calories!