Dads - being active starts early

New Zealand is a wonderland, a country where the great outdoors are available to play, and explore. And…those places are close at hand. We are so lucky! The mountains, rivers, lakes and bush are great places for dads and kids to explore during weekends and holidays or just when a few hours presents itself. Don’t turn on the computer or the tv, get outside and explore - there are so many adventures to be found!

Children who live in families where parents are active are 6 times more likely to be active themselves. And…activity and play helps grow little brains. Is there a better reason to get out there and have fun with your kids!

Not only is our wonderful environment free to enjoy, but spending hours building dams to make puddles at the beach, carting stones to build stepping blocks across the stream, watching little creatures carry their food to their awaiting families, collecting shells and sticks on the beaches are all things to do that will while away the hours and give your family valuable learning and down time. But, the best part is, you all get to hang out together!!!

Research tells us that we develop the strongest brain connections during the first 7 (or there abouts) years of our lives. That learning stays with us throughout our entire lives and in times of stress we often revert back to those learned behaviours we established way back then. What better learned behaviour than to abandon the task and head out outside, get fresh air, distract the brain and get on out there and enjoy an the outdoors. That job will probably appear much simpler once a break and some endorphins have been pumped into the blood system anyway! The secret is…take your little person too!

There are so many temptations for us to buy our children flash expensive wiz bang toys but reality is, children are happiest when hanging out with their dad, climbing a tree in the back yard or doing some of the more simple things that only take one thing…time.

Time is often something, fathers we don’t have much of and fail to understand the benefits that can be gained when bringing up children. One of the most memorable activities my children have is hanging out with their father. He was painting the house, they had their buckets of water and a paint brush while he had the real thing and they did it together. And, when he got hot and took off his shirt, so did they! Great bonding, great learning, lots of language and they were out there doing it.

The time we have with these little guys is short – my message is – ENJOY THE JOURNEY.

Written by Gill Connell – child development consultant, teacher and co-author of Moving to Learn – Crowe/Connell. www.movingsmart.co.nz and www.movingtolearn.com.