Encouraging your kids to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle should be a priority for any loving parent. However, convincing your littles to get up and moving can be a challenge, especially when they have phones, tablets and TVs for entertainment. Luckily, there are plenty of fun, family-friendly activities to encourage fitness, and you can try most of them right at home.
1. Book a Fitness Class
Even before the pandemic, there were a plethora of different fitness classes available for families. Now, however, you can easily take one right at home with on-demand videos and live stream workouts.
Lace up your shoes, roll out your mats and get moving with Disney-themed workouts, silly instructors and fun, upbeat music. Whether you do push-ups with Batman or squats with Spiderman, everyone’s sure to get stronger — and have a blast doing it!
2. Play Recess Games
Think back for a second on your time as a child. What kinds of games did you play on the playground? Maybe you enjoyed classics like hopscotch, jump rope and four square. Perhaps you even chased your friends around playing tag, red rover and red light, green light.
Introduce your little ones to some of your favorites or let them take the lead and teach you a few fun recess games. Stock up on equipment like balls, hula hoops, chalk and jump ropes to inspire even more creativity.
3. Take a Hike
You know what they say. Nature is the best medicine. The more time you spend outdoors, the better off you’ll be, so why not strap on your shoes and take a hike?
Hit the trails and explore your local parks, first. If your kids are very young, plan a short walk with plenty of cool land or water features. Eventually, you can work your way up to longer hikes and cover more challenging terrain. Pack plenty of snacks and let have everyone carry their own pack and water bottle to make them even stronger.
4. Park Further Away
Sometimes, the most effective way to keep your family fit is also the simplest. Instead of planning a trip to the gym or a backpacking adventure, just park your car further away from the grocery store.
You’ll have to walk a longer distance to make it to the front door and, since your kiddos can’t drive, they have little say in the matter. Plus, you’ll burn more calories and energy and teach your littles how to better incorporate movement into their day. That sounds like a parenting win!
5. Volunteer at a Community Garden
Community gardens can help promote a healthy lifestyle, especially in urban and suburban areas. They encourage a well-rounded diet, time in nature and physical activity, so volunteering to grow or maintain one is a great way to stay fit.
Ask around at local churches and charitable organizations to find a community garden near you. Then, slip into some gardening gloves and head over to the plot as a family. Plant, weed, till, rake and water to your heart’s content. Then, come back and do it all over again next week!
6. Try Virtual Reality
If you can’t manage to rip your kids away from their screens, make technology work for you with virtual reality. VR opens the door to new worlds and unlocks yet another clever and creative way to break a sweat. Plus, you’ll have little trouble convincing your kids to play.
Try Beat Saber and slice through objects to upbeat tunes and rhythms or play knockout league and sharpen your boxing skills. You can also play table tennis, basketball, soccer and a variety of other sports in VR. Take your kids shopping for their favorites to engage their interests and incentivize them to stay fit.
7. Throw Dance Parties
Whether you’re 40 years old or four, dancing is a brilliant way to take care of your mind and body. Even just a few minutes of jigging can improve balance, strength and cognitive performance. It can also reduce stress and boost your mood to help everyone in the family fight anxiety and increase self-esteem.
Throw a dance party or two every week to make fitness and fun part of your routine. Let your kids pick the music, crank up the sound and move your feet to the beat. If your kids are older or you want a more structured experience, take a Zumba, hip-hop or cardio dance class together.
Making Movement a Priority
You don’t have to bust your budget to stay fit. In fact, some of the most effective ideas are also the simplest. Make movement a priority by starting small and incorporating just a few healthy habits into your routine. Schedule time to play, sweat and move. Book fitness classes in advance and use a planner to keep track of all the fun activities on your docket. The more proactive you are, the more apt you’ll be to stick with it and keep your family fit in the long run.