Most toddlers get plenty of exercise. TIP SHEET’s Anna Kuchment asked Dr. David Geller, an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, for advice on encouraging timid kids to get moving.

Should you ever worry that a toddler isn’t active enough? For the most part, kids naturally are going to get enough activity. But if the child is gaining weight excessively, and you think a lack of activity might be contributing to that, then it might be an issue.

What can you do to encourage a shy child to run and climb? Try going to the playground at a less busy time. Help them climb up the slide backward, or ask them to race you to the swings. Play Hide and Seek or Simon Says.

When are kids too old for strollers? By 3 or 4. At 2, it’s good to give the child a chance to walk, but if they want to be picked up, it’s still appropriate. By 2 to 3, I would expect them to be able to walk confidently. If not, encourage them by saying, “How about you walk to that telephone pole, then I’ll pick you up?” It’s about getting kids to enjoy using their bodies. And if they can do that, they’ll get exercise naturally.