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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask how much 'sport' you do with your toddlers?

34 replies

Fattyfattymummum · 20/10/2020 12:04

I am so often confronted on social media (I know, I know...) with pictures of friends and their young families being spectacularly sporting... Hiking, biking etc.

With my two (4yo and a just-walking 18mo) we just about manage a potter around the village or an hour at the playground, but rarely more than that.

How much do you do with yours? How much should you do? What is realistic?

OP posts:

Janevaljane · 20/10/2020 12:08

Mine had swimming lessons from 4, were horseriding, cycling and doing a bit of running! Probably not usual. I had a very inactive 18 month old at the time and she sat on a hipseat while I watched the others.

Original poster

Fattyfattymummum · 20/10/2020 12:38

I'd never heard of a hipseat and have just looked it up... Could be a game changer!!

OP posts:

Janevaljane · 20/10/2020 12:43

It was an absolute game changer!! Glad they still exist, mine were this age 16 years ago

Kanaloa · 20/10/2020 13:02

Mine got lots of exercise at preschool, they did football class and swimming with us as well. Mainly their exercise at this age seemed to be just running about everywhere playing with their friends.

polkadotpixie · 20/10/2020 13:04

I'm taking my 2 year old to a kids football class that starts in a couple of weeks but otherwise just walks and playing on the park & my Mum is taking him swimming tomorrow but that's the first time since lockdown so it's not a regular occurrence

Redolent · 20/10/2020 13:12

Have been kicking a small ball around with my 20 month old for a few months. Every time we go to the park etc. DH bought her a mini basketball hoop but it’s pointless as she basically inserts the ball right in, no attempt at throwing

Original poster

Fattyfattymummum · 20/10/2020 14:25

I'm feeling a little better now! You're definitely doing more than I am but at least it's not completely out of reach. I like the idea of a mini basketball hoop as well!

OP posts:

CallmeMrsScavo · 20/10/2020 14:28

Swimming, dog walking, rugby tots.

Carrotcakey · 20/10/2020 14:31

My toddler doesn’t sit still, running, climbing, biking. Organised sport can wait until a bit later.

My 7 yo got seriously into sport; gymnastics, swimming lessons, park run etc... at about 4. We didn’t do anything structured before then. She’s really sporty now.

familyof4boys · 20/10/2020 14:31

Whatever works for you is probably the right amount! Bigger kids do rugby/football and used to do swimming (now they can all swim proficiently they don’t have to do lessons) and little one just plays in the garden, goes to the park, bumbles about! He will start swimming when he’s 3 or so I’d imagine. None of them ever stop moving though so I don’t have any concerns about exercise levels. Perhaps if your children are naturally more sedentary then it’s something to try and schedule/ consider or if naturally very active, then something you probably don’t need to worry too much about!

CorpusCallosum · 20/10/2020 14:31

@Redolent

Ha! Exactly this when I tried getting DD 20mo to throw a ball into the washing up bowl as a target 😂

Risotto4tea · 20/10/2020 14:37

My 2 and 4 yr old both do one dance class and a swimming lesson per week. I want them to be able to swim/ water confident so feel this is a necessary 'chore' (although my othe daughter didnt start lessons until she was 6 and can swim fab now). They both enjoy the dancing and it's more the social side especially with no playgroups at the moment. I try to get them to walk places if we have the time and they love playing in the park, or exploring in the woods.

MotherWol · 20/10/2020 15:14

We don't do any organised sport (e.g. football clubs), but we do try to be active every week with DD (4.5). We do things like bike rides, walks in country parks, nature trails etc; we also do things like Cosmic Kids yoga at home, and pre-lockdown we went swimming regularly.

Growing up my parents were never really outdoorsy and I came to exercise pretty late in life, and I wish I had learned earlier how good it is both in terms of physical and mental health. I'd like it if my DD had good role models of enjoying the outdoors and feeling strong and energetic, so I try to do as much of that stuff with her as I can. When she's a bit older/when things are back to normal I'm going to look into some after school clubs that are sport-based so she grows up seeing it as a normal part of life.

VeniceQueen2004 · 20/10/2020 15:27

I fret about this! me and DP are the least sporty people in this world, so it just isn't part of our lives - I used to take DD swimming (pool now won't have kids because of COVID) and to a toddler gymnastics class (now closed because of COVID!) but she just isn't into structure at this age so mainly just played in the water or with the equipment. Can't imagine her ever actually engaging with an organised activity like a football club... but I want her to grow up strong and healthy with activities in her life!

VeniceQueen2004 · 20/10/2020 15:28

We do do a lot of walking/climbing etc. Which is good!

PatchworkElmer · 20/10/2020 15:54

My 3 year old has active days at pre-school. On ‘home’ days, we tend to do lots of walking/ cycling. Even stuff like wandering around the farm park for the morning adds up. Playing on the park. He has swimming lessons every Sunday, too.

randomsabreuse · 20/10/2020 16:03

We do a fair amount. 5 year old and not quite 2 year old. 5 year old happily hill walks/runs for several hours, started when she was young walking with our dog.

Not quite 2 year old goes in a big hiking rucksack for big walks and is let out on flat and downhill bits. Also will patiently sit in a running buggy so 5 year old and I can run.

Lockdown project was getting 5 year old biking, hopefully by spring she will be capable enough for family bike rides with 2 year old on a bike seat or in a trailer. At the moment she still needs an adult on foot and with free hands, but is improving rapidly. As we're in a more suitable location not quite 2 year old gets to mooch about on a balance bike a bit (walks in a straight straddling the bike, shouting at sheds to get out of the way, hopefully he will work out steering soon...)

5 year old is much easier to manage if well exercised, 2 year old also needs a short walk to manage grumpiness!

Tigger85 · 20/10/2020 16:33

My ds is 3 and goes to soccer tots at the local football club, he usually only lasts about 20 mins before he's had enough. He rides his balance bike for around an hour every day, we go to the park 1-2 times per week, he usually wants to go for a wander/run around and then goes to play on the equipment usually around 1-2hrs. sometimes he prefers to go for a walk in the woods which would usually last around an hour, If covid wasn't around he would go swimming once per week. It makes him sleep well but he does get very grumpy around dinner time.

nanbread · 20/10/2020 16:36

We don't do any "sports" as such but go for walks often, older one rides bike, younger one sometimes rides scooter, we often play tag or go to the park. Did do swimming and after school clubs which were sporty - but Covid stopped that. I think it's nice for them not to have too much scheduled.

Iamuhtredsonofuhtred · 20/10/2020 17:30

Nothing organised as such for this age- but they are out in their scooters or balance bikes every day, walk the dog and do dance/PE at preschool twice a week. My 7 year old does swimming and dance.

ForeverBubblegum · 20/10/2020 17:46

We manage a walk somewhere outdoorsy once most weeks. Pre-covid we went swimming once a week, but that's on hold at the moment. Besides that it just incidental exercise as not really sports (eg. Walk to pre-school, run round playground, play in garden)

Screwcorona · 20/10/2020 17:51

We do lots but sport has always played a high priority role in mine and hubby's life.

I'd say just walking plenty of journeys at toddler age and exploring the outdoors at least 3 or 4 days a week is fine

Original poster

Fattyfattymummum · 20/10/2020 20:53

This is all very reassuring, and some lovely ideas for sport/play. Would seem that all hope is not lost for me yet!

OP posts:

Camomila · 20/10/2020 21:29

I have DS1 (4.5) and a baby (goes in sling or pushchair) pre-pandemic he'd usually do swimming on a Saturday morning and then park in the afternoon. Often a countryside walk on Sundays.
With a bit of bribery (biscuits!) he'll do a 2h walk/hike.
Swimming isn't running his group atm, so I've signed him up for athletics instead.

I spend a lot of time trying to tire him out! I think he was a spaniel/lurcher etc in a previous life!

TakeMe2Insanity · 20/10/2020 21:41

I have a very active 4 year old. He enjoys things like hill walking etc. We’ve had to send him to school where they do sport every day and most days he’ll insist on doing something sporty in the garden.

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