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Grand Fitness
Exercising with Your Grandchildren
By Charlene Torkelson
Sit in the bleachers at any Little League game and you'll see almost as many grandparents as parents cheering on the teams. Grandparents have an unequaled enthusiasm for attending and participating in activities, sports and fitness opportunities with their grandchildren.
It may be the additional time they have after their own children are grown and out of the house or the excitement in sharing an interest or hobby with a young person. Or maybe they just have more energy when the time spent with an overactive youngster is limited and the child will be going to another home afterward. Whatever the reason, grandparents seem to be very much a part of the activities of their grandchildren.
Those activities may vary depending on the age of the child and the interests of both grandparent and grandchild. For example, a baby is perfect for a nice walk with a stroller or jogger. All of the new equipment available for babies these days allows ease in walking, running and bike riding. Baby no longer inhibits daily exercise, but rather enhances the experience.
Toddlers may require an adult to attend and participate in their activities such as swimming, gymnastics and dance classes. Grandfather Rod Elofson of Minneapolis, Minn., knows all about participating in toddler classes. When his daughter and son-in-law discovered she was pregnant after just adopting two babies, Elofson began gymnastics classes with 2-year-old Johnny to give his daughter a break.