Exercise for a 2 yr old

[ElaineFromLondon]

After making my 'pushchair for very big 2 year old' thread, I have decided that I should increase my DS's mobility and exercise so that he can shed a bit of weight. I was wondering if anyone knows of anything that would be good to start that off. Nothing too challenging as his current weight does make it a bit difficult for him. Thanks.

Well he's only 2...why does he need exercise in a formal capacity? Most 2 year olds just run around as best they can...park etc. If he is overweight, feed him less. What does he weight and what does he eat?

He weighs 50lbs and is only 34 inches tall, this is due to him breaking his leg just after his 1st birthday which delayed his walking and limited his mobility a lot. he also has a rather excessive appetite.

Toddler gymnastics / play gymnastics like Tumble Tots is a great way for my little one to burn off energy I've found - and develops coordination and movement skills at the same time - worth a look if there is anything near you

swimming

You say he has an excessive appetite, but what does actually he get to eat?

Mine would just have a fairly active day in general

Ie typical day something like:

9-11am walk to museum ( about 20 mins away, and walk around - London history/ science so fair size).
11-1 walk to Hyde park, around park/ climb trees/ have picnic, walk 20 ish mins home)
3-5pm - back outside on scooter to shops then in park
6-6.30pm - swim daily

I think NHS website says under 5 should spend approx 3 hrs a day being active ie walking/ running/ scooter/ bike / playground etc

Mine loved running bike and micro scooter from 18 ish months so fairly speedy by 2. Wouldn't have sat in pram after 2 -2 1/2 ish latest either as wanted to walk/ scoot etc

Does he like climbing over fallen down trees? Does he like football with you? ( 2 year old standard but fairly active)

Ahhh, thats very young to be worried about weight. I found my dcs dropped puppy fat by 5 ish.

Swimming, park, tumbletots, softplay, don't sweat it

That's terrible...poor little leggy. :( But you will need to not give in to his appetite...in your shoes I would be seeking professional advice from an occupational therapist and a dietitian. You need to see the GP and ask to be referred. He could have all kinds of health issues in the future if this is not sorted asap.

Oh and offer lots of healthy foods.

50lb is a lot for a 2 year old ( as I'm sure you know). In comparison my 4 1/2 year old is approx 38lb ( just under 18kg)

Here's what he had to eat yesterday:
Breakfast : 2 slices of toast w/peanut butter

Lunch: Pasta with bolognese sauce

Dinner: 3 fish fingers with chips.

Snacks: Cereal bar, Dairy Milk bar, apple slices, chocolate buttons.

He Also had a small piece of chocolate cake that was being given out in the supermarket.

Op why are you giving him chocolate and cake as snacks? Veg sticks and fruit with things like breadsticks would be much better and filling.
Fishfinger and veg would be a better evening meal. He doesn't need chips or at least just a bit of mash? Couple of new potatoes?

Also, what does he drink? Milk? Water or juice?

SMSMTW- Mostly Milk

I'd cut back on the milk too then. Make sure he's got yogurts cheese and plenty of green veg in his diet and limit the milk.

That sounds like a lot of carbs/ sugar

Cereal bar , dairy milk, cake and choc buttons in one day is more what my 4 year old has in a month. There's virtually no veg at any meal.

Could you only give one piece toast but with Greek yogurt and fruit. Fish and veg for dinner

That is a huge amount of bad food, presumably he can't help himself to it all? Why do you give it to him?

I have the opposite problem it's hard for me to get my almost 2 year old to sit still bit the things I do to focus his energy is obstical courses at home, piles of pillows to climb over, kids table to crawl under, tunnel made out of the drying rack with a sheet over it. Also large open spaces, parks, fields or beaches and just let him run about without any toys or structured games, toddlers find fun in little things. We ask ds to bring us one bit of washing at a time, he loves this he announces who owns each bit of clothing, it takes him ages and it's helpful!

I'd avoid giving any chocolate as a snack, just offer veg or fruit and if he doesn't want it he obviously isn't hungry.

Good lunch!

That's an awful lot of processed/refined food! I'd be trying to switch some of that for food with more nutritional value:

Porridge instead of toast (more protein, fibre, B vitamins and antioxidants than bread) with fruit

Quinoa or brown/red rice instead of pasta

Vegie sticks instead of chips

Snacks of fruit, vegie sticks, dates, hummus, nut butters. There is no reason for a two year old to be served things like chocolate (except for very rare situations like parties). You are creating his palate now. The more complex tastes he is exposed to now the better he will eat as an adult. Also take a close look at your own diet and ditch any crap. Children on the whole grow up to eat like their parents.
As for exercise: walk everywhere! Make a park outing part of your daily routine. Join toddler gymnastics and start swimming lessons.

That seems a lot to me. My two year old has a small bowl of cereal and a banana for breakfast, lunch is a sandwich( one slice of bread) with tomatoes, cucumber, peppers or carrot sticks and yoghurt, and for dinner a small portion of whatever we're having. If she has fish fingers she's given one and a half with about four chips and veg which she'd rarely finish. She'll have a snack mid afternoon if she's hungry which is usually fruit or a biscuit. She had sweets or chocolate roughly 3 times a week unless there's a special occasion and we have a dessert once in a while. My three year old eats slightly larger portions of the same but not much more. Both are a healthy weight (for now, I know) and are constantly on the go.

I just thought i'd mention to anybody recommending foods, He has an unusual intolerance to most types of cheese which causes vomiting and sometimes diarrhea. So i don't feed him it.

Reading the days food there seems to be a serious lack of veg and fruit.

Are you struggling for ideas or motivating him? What is he doing? Has he got used to sitting down watching TV when he broke his leg? Turn TV off if so. He will Tantrum.

Get him in that garden with a ball while it is warm, park, soft play, Swimming is good if he is struggling to carry his weight as you don't feel the weight.

Put music on and a box of instruments.

At 2 it doesn't need to be you will jog for 30 minutes but any chance to walk take it, get some wellies jumping in puddles on a rainy day.

In the kindest way possible you know that you have 100% control over what you feed him. I will, occasionally give ds something sweet but on the whole it is just what we have. It makes us eat better! Meat and veg, limited snacks.

A standard day is;

1 weetabix with banana
Pitta bread, cucumber, carrot & hummus
Pork chop, new potatoes, veg
Yoghurt after if he's still hungry

Ds is shocking if he sees sweet food but it's our responsibility to try and create a healthy relationship if at all possible.

Re physical activity, just plenty of fresh air whatever the weather. They never stop! Limited screen time too.