Your Active Child: How to Boost Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Development through Age-Apropriate Activity

A guide to protecting children under eight years old from becoming either lethargic or high-strung

Today, many children fall into one of two categories, neither of which is healthy: one group is almost entirely inactive, and the other spends most of their "free" time in highly structured, overly stressful competitive sports that are age-inappropriate.

As an expert on children's movement and development, and as a consultant to the Children's Television Workshop, Gymboree, YMCA of the USA, and other groups, Rae Pica shows how the right kinds of activities increase children's enjoyment of physical activity for a lifetime. With straight talk on what works, what doesn't, and why, Pica teaches parents:

• Why raising a Super Kid is as dangerous as raising a Couch Potato
• Unique activity ideas and the benefits of "cooperative activities"
• How to recognize when a child is too active or not active enough
• Why competitive sports programs aren't the answer
• And much more

The author has depicted beautifully, not only how important it is to keep our kids active but, to make sure they don't get too much exercise as well. It never occurred to me that too much activity can actually cause harm.

I have two small boys and often struggle with whether or not I do enough to keep them active. It seems most of their friends play soccer, gym class, basketball, music lessons, arts & crafts, etc. The list goes on and on. I feel much better after reading this book that I'm not over-scheduling them. After all, they are only two and four.

This book offers FUN, practicle, simple ideas for age-appropriate activities. I keep this book on the kitchen counter as I plan my days.

My life is forever changed. I am far more motivated to set a good example for my children to follow with regard to exercising (my husband sure does). I want them to develop a life-long love for exercise, to stay fit and healthy. I find it wonderful that my boys now refer to going to the playground as "can we go exercise?" There are no negative connotations to exercise in my house.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Rae Pica!!!


Not What I was Looking For   January 7, 2004
5 out of 7 found this review helpful

I was very disappointed with this book. What parent/child doesn't know about hitting balloons around? Playing Follow the Leader? Or putting babies on their stomachs to strengthen their bodies since they are supposed to be sleeping on their backs all the time. Or putting objects ahead of them to encourage moving toward the toy? It is filled with what I feel is common knowledge--health risks of inactivity, kids' organized sports pros & cons, "motor milestones" for infants. I was looking for some creative ideas for small children, especially ideas on keeping active during the winter and bad weather. I was expecting many suggestions on simple, inexpensive ideas for active play, ratings of active play equipment, suggestions for some toys good for active play (beyond hoola hoops, balls, etc.). I didn't gain one good new idea from reading the whole book. But, I was glad to see the much hated Dodge Ball is now banned in many schools!