As a parent, you want your child to be healthy but you also want to make sure they are getting a good amount of rest. Here, we will look at how much sport your child should be doing and how toddler football classes near you will help.
Getting the right amount of physical activity is really important for toddlers. Physical activity is an important part of your toddler’s physical and emotional development. And the earlier you get your child interested and enjoying physical activity, the more likely they will continue to lead a healthy active life into adulthood.
But, it is important to get the balance right. Adding in the right amount of sport within your toddlers regular play whilst giving them time to rest and do slower activities like drawing or reading.
Within this article, we will delve into how much sport your toddler should be doing and how a toddler class near you will help.
How Active Should Your Toddler Be On A Daily Basis?
There are some very definite guidelines set by the NHS when it comes to the activity level of your toddler. Within this section, we will look at what the NHS recommends, depending on age range.
Babies (Under 1 Year Old)
Babies should be encouraged to be active throughout the day, every day, in a variety of ways, including crawling. If they’re not yet crawling, encourage them to be physically active by reaching and grasping, pulling and pushing, moving their head, body and limbs during daily routines, and during supervised floor play.
You should try to include at least 30 minutes of tummy time spread throughout the day when they’re awake. Tummy time is excellent for helping them to strengthen their back, neck and shoulders.
Toddlers (1-2 Years Old)
Toddlers should be physically active every day for at least 180 minutes (3 hours) but, really, the more the better. This should be spread throughout the day and include things like standing up, rolling, running, skipping, jumping, playing outdoors, riding a bike and attending toddler sports classes.
Pre-Schoolers (3-4 Years Old)
Pre-schoolers should also spend at least 180 minutes (3 hours) a day doing a variety of physical activities spread throughout the day, including active and outdoor play. The more the better.
At this age, the 180 minutes should include at least 60 minutes (1 hour) of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity.
All children under 5 should not be inactive for long periods, except when they’re asleep. Watching TV, travelling by car, bus or train, or being strapped into a buggy for long periods are not good for a child’s health and development.
Will Toddler Football Classes Near Me Will Help?
The simple and quick answer to this is yes. Taking your toddler to football classes will most definitely help them get the level of activity they need.
But, if you would like to know more about why football classes near you will help, keep on reading.
Helps With Development Of Motor Skills
Football classes will help your child to develop their gross motor skills. Gross motor skills are really important as they help your child with basic movements. You will see it very early on in your child’s life as they learn to sit up, hold their head steady, crawl etc.
Your child can join our football classes as early as 6 months old and we will help them to develop these early motor skills. As they grow up and move up the classes, they will learn balance and coordination, along with football skills.
Boosts Fitness
By attending football classes, your toddler will have weekly sessions where they are active for 30 to 40 minutes. Football classes will not only help to keep them active but it will boost their cardiovascular health and overall general fitness.
Improves Communication and Social Skills
By coming to football classes, your toddler will be around children who are the same or a similar age. They will get to know children through attending our classes and, as they get older, they will begin working in pairs and small groups.
Being around children their own age is a great way to develop their social skills and to help them make friends.
Attending football classes will also help to learn communication skills as they will begin working in pairs and small groups. They will learn about teamwork and cooperation.
Your Toddler Will Have Fun
Finally, a toddler football class near you will help your toddler be as active as they need to be because, whilst they are taking part, they will be having fun! And when a toddler is having fun, they will want to continue having fun which they can do by attending classes once a week.
A fun football class will help them build a routine of physical activity which may stay with them for the rest of their lives, leading them to be active, healthy adults.
Toddler Football Classes Near Me: How Much Sport Should Your Toddler Be Doing?
The amount of sport your toddler should be doing is dependent on their age but from 1 years old to their pre-school years, they should be doing 180 minus (3 hours) of physical activity each day.
Toddler football classes near you will be able to help you to get your toddler active each week. The classes will help your toddler to develop their motor skills, social skills and boost their fitness. Your toddler will also have a lot of fun!
If you feel a football class is the right fit for your toddler, we have classes across the UK, in Ireland and in the Channel Islands. Please click here to find your local class.