Exercises for Early Ages - Do's and don'ts

In regard to this maturation process here are a few “do's” and “don't's” for the parent:

1. • DO encourage your child to develop good activity habits.
2. • DO encourage your child to develop good posture habits as a way to be kind to his body.
3. • DO instruct your child in the rules of safety, good sportsmanship, and other aspects of exercise, sports, and athletic activity.
4. • DO make sure that your child has adequate medical and dental care.
5. • DON'T compare your child's performance unfavorably with the performances of others.
6. • DON'T force your child to take part in any game, exercise, or sport against his will or at too rapid a pace.
7. • DO take part in exercises or other activities with your child to teach techniques and attitudes in the most personal of all ways—by sharing time.
8. • Without forcing it, DO encourage your child to become fitness conscious.

Warning Signs

Children become sick just as adults do. As with adults, a sickness can be primarily physical or primarily emotional. In either case the sensation of weakness or incapacity will be completely real.

A physician should be consulted when a child, during play or exercise, displays any of the following symptoms:

1. • Blue lips or nails. Blueness should not occur unless the child is playing in cold, damp air—and that in itself might be unhealthful.
2. • Unusual fatigue. Excessive fatigue does not mean the child is reacting with laziness; it can mean that he needs rest, or a respite from the game.
3. • Excessive loss of breath. Breathlessness is normal after vigorous activity, but where it persists more than three to five minutes after termination of the activity, a medical examination may be in order.
4. • Shakiness. Shakiness that lasts more than ten minutes after strenuous activity may be abnormal.
5. • Cold sweat. The young person who breaks out in a cold sweat is rarely showing a normal reaction.
6. • Muscle twitching. Muscle twitches may or may not be normal, and should be watched.

In addition, children may exhibit other symptoms after taking part in exercise, games, or sports. These may require a physician's attention, especially if they continue. Among such symptoms are digestive upsets, fainting, headache, dizziness, pain not associated with an injury, disorientation, personality changes, uneven heartbeat, and interrupted sleep.