Starting from a young age, it’s important to give your children active playtime in order to establish good habits of daily physical activity. Active playtime will help strengthen muscles and improve motor skills. Children need to run and jump around every day, whether in the house or outdoors. You can play hide and seek with them, let them climb in the playground, dance to music together, throw and catch a ball and anything else you can think of. Provide a safe place where your children can play under your supervision.
If possible, avoid any screen time until your child is two-years-old. If you do decide to let your child watch television - try to limit the time he spends in front of screens to the minimum time possible. Studies have shown that children who watch television for over two hours a day suffer more from obesity during childhood and later on as adults. Above all, don't put a screen in your child's bedroom. If you decide to let your child watch television, it should be in a place where you can supervise the contents and where it will be easier for you to limit the amount of time in front of the screen.
Last updated: May 2017
Authors - Tamar Sudry BA MED, Dr. Yair Sadaka MD Ph.D., pediatrician, Pediatric neurologist
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