Between the ages of nine months and two years, children generally move from crawling to walking and eventually to running. Offer guidance instead of scolding to explorers. Arrange their environment so that they can move around safely. This age span is the critical skill-gathering time. Games of catch in the yard and jogs with Mom or Dad are important.
Many parents assume that children are so naturally active that they develop skills on their own.
This is not true. When a group of children are turned loose in a room full of equipment, they will play at first, but when the novelty wears off, they end up sitting around talking. They need to be directed into games that develop their skills and keep them active. Ages Eight and Up During this time, children are usually introduced to team sports. However, children get more long-term fitness benefits from individual achievement sports such as swimming, gymnastics, or track.