Child's developing brain also benefits from regular physical exercise from
birth.
By Eleska Aubespin
Florida Today February 21, 2003
You're never too young to exercise.
Yet, with a growing industry of gadgets and toys that can occupy baby's time,
parents might be missing that point. That's why TV producer Karen LeBlanc-Ulibarri
and Margaret Barnes, a pediatric occupational therapist, both from Orlando,
Fla., have created a series of videos called "Wee Exercise" for babies.
"The problem is, you have all these gadgets to occupy baby when Mom is
cleaning, cooking or working," says LeBlanc-Ulibarri, the mother of 2-year-old
Alexis. "And studies show that really hinders physical development of the
child during the first year." She's right. According to a February 2002
report released by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education,
babies should be encouraged to be active from birth. "Confining babies
and young children to strollers, play pens, car and infant seats for hours at
a time may delay development such as rolling over, crawling, walking and even
cognitive development," the report states. Physical exercise not only establishes
good health patterns, but can make your baby smarter, LeBlanc-Ulibarri says:
"Early movement is directly linked to higher learning and intelligence.
Neurons in the brain are forming as a result of this type of stimulation."
Casie Farrell of Melbourne, Fla., believes it aided her daughter, Delaney, 3.
"My daughter has been in gymnastics and swimming since she was 6 months
old," Farrell says. "She walked much earlier than other kids, she
talked earlier and potty-trained earlier." Farrell, who works out regularly,
exercised Delaney after reading about its benefits. "I know a lot of kids
who aren't active and didn't seem to develop as quickly," Farrell adds.
In the "Wee Exercise" videotapes, LeBlanc-Ulibarri and Barnes use
simple household items to help babies exercise. The exercises also provide parent-child
bonding time. "There were lots of things on the market that dealt with
shapes, foreign languages and cognitive development, but nothing about physical
development," LeBlanc-Ulibarri says. "So I called Margaret for ideas,
because she was a pediatric occupational therapist." Then, realizing they
were onto something, they created the video series and gave free copies to government-access
TV channels. "We want parents to realize we are responsible for coaching
our children and helping them reach their potential. And putting them in bouncy
swings while they watch cartoons is not going to do it." LeBlanc-Ulibarri
says.