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(216) 844-8447
(216) 844-Rainbow - Appts
(216) 844-3911 - Patient Info

Mailing Address

11100 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44106

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Nutrition and Fitness

You know the importance of good nutrition and exercise, but how do you feed a picky eater or encourage a child who hates sports to play outside? Learn how to keep your child healthy with the right foods and exercise.

Is Your Preschooler Too Active?


Preschoolers need even more physical activity than toddlers do, so it's no wonder that it's often hard to keep them in one place. The solution is to work with their high energy levels. It's important to keep them safe, of course, but give them plenty of opportunities to be active.

Create an informal activity schedule at home. Rainy days can be difficult, so it might be worth a trip to a museum, indoor playground, or shopping mall just so your child can move around. If you child attends childcare or preschool, ask how often he or she gets to go outside and what the class does on bad-weather days.

To TV or Not to TV?

TV or computer time might interest preschoolers, but these activities do nothing to burn off all that energy. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In fact, these disorders usually aren't diagnosed in preschool children because it's normal for them to be active and have short attention spans.

As children get older, more is expected of them, and it is then that it may become clear that a child is less focused, has poorer judgment, and is much more active than his classmates.

To gauge whether overactivity might be a problem for your child, consider these questions:

  • Is your child's activity level unusual for kids of the same age?
  • Is your child highly active in all settings (home, preschool, etc.) or just in some settings, such as in church?
  • Is your child highly active all or most of the time? Or is it mostly on days when he or she can't get outside to run and play?

If your child is very active, try to avoid situations where he or she is forced to sit still for long periods of time. And when sitting is unavoidable, find ways to get your child some activity, such as taking breaks during a long car trip just so your child can run around a bit. If you are still concerned, talk to your child's doctor. But the good news is that many preschoolers will become more calm and focused by the time they reach the early school years.

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Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

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