With the current epidemic of childhood obesity in this country, if you have a kid who just loves to run, there are some definite benefits. Parents with active children who enjoy outdoor activities probably worry the most about injuries from contact sports or general horsing around. However, some also worry about the strain and impact of long distance running on younger bodies.

Most fitness experts will tell you that there’s not a whole lot of definite research about young kids running long distances – because it’s really not something that’s a common health issue. If anything, most trainers and professionals encourage running for youngsters as a natural springboard to fitness activities later in life. It’s important for parents to use common sense in their encouragement: giving kids too much of a push can cause them to go a little overboard.

On the other hand, medical professionals point out that in general, kids are pretty much in tune with their natural limits. Most younger runners are not likely to overdo it, maybe because they don’t have some of the extra pressures and associations with running that older runners might be subject to, or maybe just because kids have a certain innate feel for their own limitations…theories abound, but many pediatric experts would say that running shouldn’t be a problem for kids who decide that’s what they want to do.

The other thing to remember is that the human body is made for activities like running and walking. The more we practice these elemental activities, the more our bodies adapt to the challenge. That makes running a great habit to get into. However, there is a disclaimer to that general idea: watch younger runners who have not yet gotten to school age to make sure they know the difference between natural outdoor activity and obsessive behavior. After they get to school, scholastic sports programs tend to take over in terms of a training initiative, and coaches can help channel motivation the right way. But for pre-schoolers, some of that motivation can get channeled differently. Parents should stay involved in everything that their kids are doing at these ages, even running.

Another element is diet: parents should take care that children who are physically active get enough protein and assorted nutritional building blocks to fuel their bodies. Some suggest that parents who are involved in fitness themselves can better develop an “athletic” diet for their kids.

The bottom line is, there’s really no such thing as too young to run. As humans, we naturally tend to explore our new physical potential, from crawling, to the first shaky steps, to running wildly in circles or climbing trees, etc. With all of this, parental supervision is key, both to protect from injuries and to set the tone for healthy habits later in life.