Dear Carol,
My name is Natasha Montgomery, and I have a daughter that will be three in June and she loves to run. I live out in California and I was wondering if you know of any track events that I can involve my daughter in that is her age group.

Dear Natasha,
There's a ton of great track opportunities for kids around, but your 3 year-young daughter will do best in your own backyard or in a neighborhood park.

But, WOW, I can tell that you're really wanting to get your kid going so I think that you've just got to try our Rainbow Cave program with your daughter. It's a perfect activity for a 3 year old.

Here's what you do. Print the Butterfly Chart. Buy your little one an 8 pack of crayons, set up a 50 meter running course in your back yard and you're ready to go.

First, let your daughter play outside a while, then just for fun do a couple of stretches with her. Jog with her a little, then let her run her 50 meters. After she cools down and does a couple or stretches again (just for fun...she's too young to really need to stretch), take her inside and have her color in one of our butterflies using the color code on the chart. She'll learn to color in the lines AND she'll learn to read a little too.

There are 8 butterflies on the chart (1/4 mile in all).
When she completes the first chart print the Star Chart, then the Flower Chart, and finally the Rainbow Chart.

Send a copy of a completed chart to me at kidsrunning.com, PO Box 209, Fiskdale, MA 01518. In return, I will send you a very special KidsRunning.Com/Runner's World ribbon for a keepsake and if you can navigate around this site and find our free bookmark form, then send that in too.

There's a lot of free and wonderful things on this site for your children. Please use them to your advantage and if you really really are happy with what this does for your daughter, please send a note, buy a KR T-shirt, or do something to let us know that we are a valuable service.

Have fun, get your daughter out there running and help her stay healthy and fit and save her competitive activities for when she's a bit older.