Fun Activities for a Child Under 2

Do you have a baby on the way? How about a one-year old that is just beginning to walk? It may surprise you that these little bundles of joy want to move about and learn new things, just like their older counterparts. From personal experience as a mom of a toddler and wife to a taekwondo instructor, I can tell you that just because they’re little doesn’t mean they aren’t ready to do what the “big kids” do. On a lesser scale, of course, but involved none-the-less.

My husband began teaching martial arts the same week my daughter turned one; this was one year ago. As an aspiring homeschool mother I saw this as the perfect opportunity to allow my one-year-old to begin her martial arts training. My husband gave her the blackbelt rank and she is standing up to the name. Over the course of the past year, she has learned how to be a part of our older class by stretching with us, doing kicking and punching drills in turn, practicing her spinning kicks and sometimes even instructing us to kick or punch while she holds the kick pad. She never ceases to amaze me, whether she’s learning a new block or attempting a spinning kick, she always participates and gets a workout of her own.

Another activity for the young set that inspires imagination and fosters physical movement is music and movement for 0-6 year olds. Doing an internet search for music and movement in your area can help you to locate any music and movement teachers near you. My daughter is now starting her 2nd year of music and movement, coinciding with her second year of taekwondo. The music class helps parents to loosen up and have more fun with children’s music and the children are allowed to move about and observe or interact as they wish. Children and caregivers get to move about and get that heart rate going in a fun environment with music and laughter. There is even a jam session at every class to allow the children, and adults, to have hands on fun with a variety of instruments. And this is not just a class for mom and baby or mom and toddler, dad, grandma, aunt, uncle, nanny and any other loved ones are allowed to join in the fun fest.

One more fun-filled, active, educational activity for the babies and toddlers is any program that teaches swimming to infants and/or the 1-5 year old crowd. My daughter has taken 2 sessions of swimming class; AquaTots, a class geared towards 1-4 year olds here in the Kansas City, Mo area. Being introduced to the water at such a young age has eliminated the fear usually associated with learning how to swim. Of course, she cannot navigate the pool on her own, but together we have a lot of fun while she is learning to trust me and herself, and learning to use the various floating devices that adults use and how to use her hands and feet in the water.

There are many more opportunities to get the little ones out and about using their minds and muscles. Search for gymnastics for children, even the young ones, and playgroups in your area. If there is a nature center within good distance, that is a great place to take a mini-hike and watch the birds or other wild life native to your area. You might find out if there is a community garden or children’s garden somewhere in your city where you and baby can learn about growing food and plants, an extremely healthy activity. If we take the time to cultivate an active lifestyle in our young children, we will reap the rewards later as they take it upon themselves to take care of their bodies.