Five Things We Can Learn From Toddlers
Having a toddler is not easy. Honestly, I have found it more demanding with number two! Especially when that toddler is a strong-willed girl who seems allergic to sitting still. I believe the saying is, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree?". Amongst the tantrums and standoffs each day, I have noticed how much we as adults can learn from these little humans regarding our bodies, mind, movement and nutrition. Here are five things I think we can all benefit from by copying our toddler's behaviour.
Toddlers only eat when they are hungry. Toddlers don't yet eat because it is a particular time of the day. How many times have you looked at the clock and thought, "it’s 12 I need to eat", regardless of if you were hungry? Toddlers listen to their hunger signals. If they are really active, they are starving, and the same is true of the opposite. Fix: Stop forcing yourself to eat at certain times. Listen to your bodi’s hunger signals. Skip a meal occasionally to see how hunger feels.
Toddlers do HIIT every day. No, I am not talking about them whacking you when they don't agree with what you want them to do. The way toddlers play is very similar to a HIIT session. They play really at an intense pace for short periods. There is no long steady-state cardio for toddlers. Fix: Exercise like a toddler. Ditch those hours pointlessly running on a treadmill. Get in a quick 15-minute HIIT session in instead. The research suggests this is far more beneficial. (1)
Toddlers can squat for long periods. As adults, we mostly lose the ability to get into a deep squat position. Years of a sedentary lifestyle and sitting in chairs lead to us locking up in our hips. I love watching my kids’ ability to sit in a deep squat and play on the floor for long periods. Fix: Try and perform a deep squat every day. Don't worry if you can't get all the way down at first. Use a chair or post to support yourself until you can finally reach your maximum depth. Bonus tip: this will also help keep your bowel movements nice and regular.
Toddlers can support their body weight. Toddlers can hang from monkey bars from a young age as such, our relative strength is high at a young age, but because we generally don't keep performing movements like hanging from bars, we lose that strength over time. Fix: Strength train. There are no negative side effects to being stronger. The research is irrefutable that you will live longer :) (2)
Toddlers enjoy the little things in life. I sat and watched lizards run in and out of cracks in the concrete for over an hour the other day, and it was awesome. Everything is new and exciting in a toddler's life. There is so much going on around us that we take for granted as we chase our next goal, house, job, holiday or pointless purchase. We always want that thing we don't have that we forget the amazing things we already have. Toddlers don't. They are so happy to enjoy life's simple pleasures. Just watching waves crash at the beach is fantastic for a toddler, but something we don't see anymore. Fix: Stop, enjoy the little things and breath.
Who is teaching who in this dad/parent relationship?