01 May Motor Development : Running!

When your toddler turns into Speedy Gonzalez, he’s flexing his muscles — literally. “Running falls under the developmental domain of gross motor,” says Sara Hamel, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. This type of development is a huge leap for your sure-footed squirt, as it requires mastering many motor skills, including walking and balance. “A lot goes into developing balance; in fact, we think of this as a motor milestone,” says Shari Barkin, M.D., the division chief of general pediatrics at the Monroe Carrel Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville.

What to Expect When Your Child Begins Running.

Running usually occurs between 18 to 24 months, “but there is a huge range of normal,” Dr. Barkin says, and age ranges for meeting developmental milestones should serve merely as a general guideline. It’s important to remember that each child is different and will meet milestones at different points when they’re ready. If you’re getting antsy for your child to hit the ground running, keep in mind that the trajectory of development often does not occur in a linear, entirely predictable way. So if your child took her sweet time walking, then don’t expect her to immediately become a rocking runner. Rest assured that her body hasn’t taken a break since she first started walking – her brain, nerves, and muscles are still growing and becoming stronger so she can pick up new tricks such as running.

Amazing Athletes program focuses on building your child’s motor development skills along with running using sports as a catalyst. At Amazing Athletes, we are able to work with your child on an individual basis catering to their developmental needs.

Why Is Running Important?

Running is a great activity to help kids build endurance, which is developed when kids regularly engage in aerobic activity. Running offers kids the sense of freedom and the sense of reward and achievement when they finish. As runners, children benefit from:

• A strengthening of the entire cardiovascular system, including the heart and lungs. The heart develops a higher “pump-activity” while the child’s heart and lungs are strengthened, supporting the prevention of heart disease.
• Children are less likely to become overweight and will have better control of their body fat. Overweight children are able to reduce their body weight and body fat due to the physiological effect of burning fat while exercising.
• Children develop stronger bone structure and muscle structure.

A Fun Way to include Running!

Foxes And Hens: Scatter hula hoops or rings around your play area. Place a bean bag or toy inside half of the hoops. Then place a bean bag or toy outside the other hoops. Create two separate teams: Foxes and Hens. Foxes will be responsible for trying to pull all the toys out of the hoops. Hens will be responsible for putting the toys back in the hoops. Give the athletes 1 minute to play and then switch teams and play 1 more minute.

FIND OUT MORE!

For more games and other fun moving activities find an Amazing Athletes program near you! If you want to spread the joy of movements and sports in your area check out our Franchise Opportunity page and learn how to become your own boss!