Time Warner Cable News is devoting the month of February to show kids and adults great ways to stay fit with healthy recipes, activities for the whole family and informative pieces to help you and your kids feel good inside and out. Watch for features, video tips and other exclusive content to keep you and your kids healthy. Check out the TWC News Fit Kids homepage.
Her girls are learning basic tumbling moves but their instructor hopes they're really learning skills for life.
"We're not trying to get them to the Olympics. We're trying to get them living a healthy, strong lifestyle where theyr'e constandly active,” said Angela Davis.
Davis started her own gymnastics training at age 5 and worked her way up to elite competitions. At Carolina Flipz, she says the goal isn't competition, it's health and wellness.
"I hope that they get out the motor devleopment skils. We're loking to get these young kids learning skipping, jumping, running, hopping, the fundamentals of any sport they could take in the future,” she said.
Experts say that's the right idea. Getting fit and active by age 5 can help kids stay lean as they age, even if they don't remain as active later in childhood. University of Iowa reserachers called this the banking effect -- the theory is that physical activiy may lead to devleoping fewer fat cells or an increased metabolism.
Another benefit is that the younger you start your kids thinking about exericse as something fun, something they want to do, the more likely it is they'll grow up thinking about it as a chore, something they have to do.
Tumbling can also add strength and flexbility training to your child's routine while they just think they're having fun.
In addition to being a fun way to stay active, experts say tumbling can also teach kids how to fall safely. They learn to roll out of a fall instead of putting their hands out, which protects their bodies.