Sports Training for Babies and Toddlers . . . When to start and is it appropriate?

Extract from a recent interview with Katherine, discussing the above topic:

"I think the phrase 'sports training for babies and toddlers' is perhaps a little too ambitious!" says Katherine Rustumji, CEO, Kara 4 Kids "our approach is to look at each young child's overall level of fitness and development - their potential - with a view to helping them become 'fit for life'." 

Kara 4 Kids, one of India's leading early years' specialists with 3 schools currently operating in Bangalore and 1 in Gurgaon, utilises a range of fun programmes, custom designed to ensure every one of their young students develops a love of exercise, even from 6 months of age.

"The foundation for fitness and the ability to play any sport is essentially the same irrespective of age" says Katherine "we need stamina, balance, coordination, flexibility, discipline and good health".  To achieve these objectives, Kara's in-school programmes include international climbing equipment, specialised early-childhood adventure sports, contemporary and classical dance, soft gym obstacle courses, yoga, gymnastics, football, cycles, fun activities and more.  As to the 'good health' component, Kara believes that 'we are what we eat'; that diet matters, hence the children are provided with highly nutritious, home-cooked meals.

"We are often asked by parents how much exercise does a young child need every day and how can to help keep their young child fit?", says Katherine "and the answers are simple . . . a normal child needs a minimum of 60 minutes of good, aerobic exercise a day complemented by a balanced diet and some good old fashioned fun".  

For many working parents and those living in apartments, this formula is not always easy to implement; where to find readily accessible, safe places to play; facilities with age appropriate equipment and more.  Fortunately Bangalore has seen a plethora of children's activity centres open that offer a range of fun programmes for their young audience.  However before enrolling your little one, always visit the facility first and check out the antecedents of the facilitators to ensure they are appropriately qualified.  Young children have soft bones and connecting tissue, and fractures and dislocation can easily take place if inappropriate forces are applied.

As so when is the right age to begin?  Kara starts off with babies of 6 months of age, using a range of simple exercises to build upper and lower body strength (gross motor), abdominal muscles, head control, and coordination (fine motor skills); the essential skills required to become an effective walker and eventual athlete perhaps?!

"Kara believes in the 'stronger the start the greater the finish' for every child and this applies to all spheres of development, whether academic, artistic or athletic.  Therefore one is never too young to begin . . ." says Katherine. 
For further details on Kara's early years' programmes and Mother & Toddler groups, please contact your nearest centre or visit us on www.kara.in.