Evidence indicates that Americans are becoming increasingly sedentary, and inactivity has a dramatic impact on a person's health and overall well-being. Children learn and form habits associated with activity level very early in life from parents. In fact, research indicates that children's activity level during the preschool years is an excellent predictor of their living habits as adults. Children need learning activities that involve their senses and bodies.
I truly believe in this fact, and as parents we try to live by it with Alexander!
Ever since Alexander was three months old, Manny and I made it a habit to take him out. Whether it was a stroll in the park, or a walk through the Botanical Garden. We would speak and explain to him how the trees are green, and how we need them for oxygen. Of course, I also took the time to make it a picture day, and make it an event. We did the whole strolling him around the park until the day that he learned how to walk, and then it became a different game time - It was then as it still is now a play time at the park, with slides, monkey bars, swings, dirt, tree climbing and all that good old park stuff.
At around 10 months, we realized that the park was not enough, so we decided to enlist him in swimming classes. Now this has been a purely great investment. Alexander is now 23 months and I must proudly say that he is swimming like a champ! It's a parent and me class, and not only does has he learned how to swim, but how to also follow directions. He has a blast which I think it's the most important thing of all. He knows that every Sunday morning, mama & Papa are taking him to swimming classes.
School for Alexander has also been a factor - Monday through Friday he attends a great school around our house, which includes art, music, reading time, play time, and bible study.
Each child is different - You can do all of these things on a day to day basis, and it does not mean that one child is going to be smarter than the other, or that the child is going to become a CEO - Lawyer - Doctor, it just means that from his early childhood all he knows is to be an active person in life, so the probability for him to be an active and healthy person as a teenager or an adult are very high.
I absolutely love what you are doing with this blog! I only pray that when God blesses me with a little boy that he is as beautiful, smart and cool as Xanders is. I also pray that I turn out to be as good of a parent as you and Manny are. All three of you are very blessed to have each other! Congratulations!
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