Exercising can be fun, interactive and interesting for both parents and toddlers. I learnt this first-hand when I got the opportunity to review two great books by Len Saunders. The Adventure in Exercise series by Len consists of two books, featuring Joey the Kangaroo and Spunky the Monkey. Beautifully illustrated, the books are written in poem-style, making them easy to read and follow for toddlers as well and encourage kids to stay active, enjoy exercising and in short, develop a healthy lifestyle.
Reading and Staying Healthy – An Ideal Combination
Reading in itself is a healthy habit for kids and when the books talk about staying active and healthy, the benefit doubles. Simple words, large print, easy-to-follow instructions and colorful illustrations make reading the Adventure in Exercise books a real pleasure. I enjoyed reading them with my toddler and since the instructions are simple enough, she loved doing the exercises. The jumping jacks, slithering on the floor, walking in place, running, and standing on one leg ones are her favorites.
The Adventure in Exercise Books a Healthy Resource for Parents
In fact, the Adventure in Exercise books are a great stay-healthy resource for families all over. The books have useful Parent/Teacher reference sections at the end which describe benefits of the exercises as well as help you, as a parent, increase the intensity for some of the exercises for your children. Each page also has a question or suggestion at the end asking children to imitate Spunky or Joey and do the exercises.
Making Exercise a Part of Daily Life
Reading these books everyday with my toddler has ensured that we stay active and have fun at the same time. In fact, she brings the Joey the Kangaroo book over to me more often than her other books. I think the reason is that the books are interactive and different from just sitting and reading. While the books are great to read everyday, they’re perfect for rainy days or when you just don’t have the time to get out and run about.
About the Author
Len Saunders, a qualified fitness instructor, has been a part of the children’s health and fitness industry for over 25 years and has written for several magazines, including Muscle and Fitness, Sports Illustrated for Kids and Human Kinetics Publishing. In addition, some of his articles have also been used for shows on ABC-TV. Find out more about him and the Adventure in Series books at their official website. You can also buy both the books from Amazon.
Disclaimer: Copies of the Adventure in Exercise series were provided to Untrained Housewife for purpose of review.