The Preschooler Workout Regimen

I can't work out because my preschooler won't let me...


Think again!  This Preschooler Workout Regiment removes all excuses and enables you to have a lot of fun with your child while getting a great core workout.

#1- Pick Me Up and Drop Me
Hold your preschooler in front of you, with your legs shoulder-width apart.  Then quickly "drop" them by dropping your hands quickly a few inches below the bottom.  He/She will get about a millisecond of free fall- when you catch them do a deep squat, come up quickly and give them a little bounce.  Repeat.  Start with 5 and work up to as many as you possibly can.

#2- The Couch Jump and Catch
Standing perpendicular to the couch, with your body facing the couch, and legs a little more than should-width apart.  Have your child jump from the couch into your hands.  Let the momentum swing, and do a side squat.  Push out of the squat and gently toss your child back on the couch.  Repeat.  Switch sides.  Start with 5 and work up to as many as you can.

#3- Tackle and Leg Curls
Sit on the ground, legs bent in front of you.  Have your child charge at you and tackle you (into your arms).  Allow the momentum to push you onto your back while you are supporting your child with your legs.  You should be looking into the face of your giggling child, supporting them with your arms and legs. Begin pressing your child up into the air in a curling motion with your legs.  Try both legs- then try to do it with one leg.  Repeat 5-10 times, or as many as you can.

#4- Bench Press the Kid (Can be combined with #3)
Do the same thing you did with #3, but this time push your child up with your arms.  Repeat 5-10 times, or... well, you get the idea.

#5- Toss the Child
Start in a squatting position.  Pick up your child and thrust your legs up, lifting him/her into the air and releasing and then catching them.  When you catch them bring them back down to the ground and the original squatting position.

#6- Hug/Tickle Monster
Run around the house.  The Hug/Tickle Monster is trying to hug or tickle.  Once you've been hugged or tickled, then you are the hug or tickle monster.  You know, tag?  Great cardiovascular.

#7- Switch the Points
Walk briskly around the room or house as if you were on a train, then when someone says, "Switch the points", you can go in any direction you wish.  Cardiovascular.

#8- Race
Pick out a race course and have a race against each other... take a guess what this works out.

#9- Horsey Daddy
Crawl around on the floor with your child on your back- great way to work out your shoulders.

#10- The Roll Around
Laying flat on your back, hug your child to you, then roll to the left and roll to your right.  Do this as long as you can.

#11- Curls
Pick up your child, standing with your back straight and do traditional curls.

#12- Piggy Back or Shoulder Ride
Just as it sounds- just walk around with all the extra weight.

This is a great way to have fun with your child and have a good workout... plus, you know the intensity will always increase as your new personal trainer (your child) will not let you rest until you collapse... plus, since they seem to grow so fast, your fitness with have to improve to keep up with the extra weight your child will put on as he or she gets bigger... if you keep this up through the teen years, you'll be build like Arnold Schwarzenegger in no time at all.

Have fun!