Parents know it’s hard to get in a workout when you have kids. Between work, parenting, and meal-preparing, there are only so many hours in the day. However, being active is an essential part of living a healthy lifestyle. Despite the challenges facing young children’s parents, it’s still possible to stay active even with a busy schedule.
As generations grow up, they are becoming increasingly sedentary, which can lead to many problems for children in the future. Research indicates that 75% of boys and 85% of girls have been inactive in recent years. Being able to foster a love for exercise and keep your children active in the face of technology requiring them to sit and look at a screen can be challenging but not impossible.
Read on for the five best tips on being more active with a young family.
One of the best ways to stay active is to plan adventures with your family. Whether going on a hike, playing in the park, or exploring a new neighborhood, these activities will help you and your kids get more exercise.
Head outside for an adventure. Planning a family outing to explore the outdoors is one of the best ways to stay active with children. Let them take part in the planning stage and allow them to be part of bringing it to life. The more you can capture their imaginations, the more fun it will be, and the less they will realize they are getting a good workout at the same time. This will drum up more enthusiasm as they look forward to finally getting to go on the adventure they designed themselves.
A walk in the great outdoors provides physical and mental benefits for parents and kids alike. Not only will you get some much-needed exercise, but this time together allows you to be creative and connect with nature while exploring your surroundings.
You don’t need to go to a gym to work out – although as your children get older, this is most definitely something you can consider if they enjoy exercise.
We all remember the runaway success of Joe Wicks’s PE lessons as lockdown started. He inspired the nation, not just the kids, to stay active as lives ground to a halt worldwide. But with a young family, you can easily find workouts online catered to their age that both you and they can do together.
Aside from online workouts, you can do together; you can go out and about going swimming together, riding bikes, playing sports and more. Ensure you have all dressed appropriately for both the activity and the weather for maximum comfort. Wear sports pants, tops and footwear to support your body and keep yourself comfortable
How often do you take the time to explore your local area? Take a walk around the streets and look for exciting things you can spot or discuss all while on foot. Keep it short and sweet for younger children and build up to more extended explorations. Make it fun by giving them challenges during your walkabouts and see what you can find.
In many areas, there is likely to be a wealth of free places you can visit, such as museums and libraries and parks and green spaces. Why not see if your local area has any walking trails or kids treasure hunts you can participate in. For example, in the UK, there is a mermaid trail around the Wallasey area which provides a great walking route and the chance to see some incredible artwork from local artists and sculptures. You can visit a local fairy garden and a shipwreck – The Black Pearl on the beach, both built and maintained by a local community group!
Planting a garden is an excellent way to spend time with your family while ensuring they eat healthy foods like vegetables and fruits. Gardening has many benefits for the whole family. Gardening is a perfect activity for children as you can use this time to incorporate many different things. Planting and tending to plants, fruits and vegetables can help keep them active; it can also teach them more about nature and the world around them while keeping them outdoors getting some much-needed fresh air. Regardless of the size of your garden, you can still cultivate a garden with your children, from large sprawling lawns and gardens to smaller patios where you have to use pots to plant anything.
It can be challenging to find periods when you and your kids are both not exhausted. Try scheduling times for active activities during the day to make it easier.
Have them be active, jump around, runabout or whatever they enjoy frequently. This can be in the form of 10 minutes bursts of energy thrown in throughout the day. It is often easier to find time for short bursts of activity than keeping children engaged for more extended periods. Plus, if you are doing it alongside them, it makes it all the more fun. You can change this up frequently and increase your time having fun/working out as they get older.
Remember, if your children see you working out and being active, this will filter through to them, and being active will become second nature and not a chore as they get older.
Find something you all enjoy doing and make it a priority to do it together. Being active with a young family is a great way to spend more time together and encourage good, healthy habits that can last a lifetime. As your children get older, you can build on the foundations you have put in place to encourage more active hobbies and lifestyles. And if you can do this all while having fun, you will be able to find a better balance in their lives that help them stay active and encourage good behaviors.
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