The family that exercises together has more fun! And there is less cause for concern about couch potatoes, obesity, and over-consumption of junk food.
Even as we wring our hands about overweight families and too much “screen time” for everyone, many experts agree that finding an antidote can and should be a family affair.
This does not have to mean gym memberships for all or group training for the next big road race, but it does mean making a commitment to get everyone moving — and loving it!
25 ideas for family fitness:
- Dance together
- Walk the dog together
- Run or jog together
- Ride bikes together
- Locate accessible hiking and biking trails and use them
- Walk on the beach
- Play tag
- Rake leaves and jump in the piles
- Shovel snow and make snow angels
- Have a snowball fight
- Go sledding together
- Take up juggling as a family
- Jump rope
- Go to the park; bring a ball or Frisbee
- Go on a nature walk
- Fly a kite
- Try cross-country skiing
- Try snow-shoeing
- Go downhill skiing
- Go ice skating
- Visit the roller rink
- Go bowling
- Stack wood for the fireplace or wood stove
- Swim in the local indoor pool
- Play driveway basketball
As a quick perusal of the 25 ideas listed here illustrates, there are numerous activities families can do together to have fun and get some exercise at the same time. Sure, there’s a big difference between planning a downhill ski trip and taking a walk along a beach, but both have a place in a family’s life. And both can be fun.
The important thing is to work these activities into your daily and weekly life. Don’t make it a one-time thing to crank up the music and dance with your kids through the house, or to toss a ball around in a nearby park.
You have to have warm weather for swimming at the lake or taking a long bike ride, but if you think about taking advantage of these and other opportunities whenever possible, everyone will be happier and more active.
Encouraging your kids to move, joining them in activities, and making these outings part of family life is a good way for everyone to keep fit. And doing so suggests to kids that physical activity is a natural and pleasurable part of life.