As a parent, it can be challenging to get your kids out and get some exercise. With the increasing availability of television, smartphones, the Internet, and game consoles, children are spending more time in doors and less time outdoors. Here are the top 5 exercises you can do as a family to encourage a healthier, more active lifestyle.
1) Walking
Walking is one of the easiest and most accessible activities to do as a family, and best of all, it’s completely free! Taking your kids for a walk is a great way to get them away from the TV and computer, improve their fitness levels, and keep their weight in check. But whatever you do, don’t suggest going for a walk! This is guaranteed to put kids off the idea. Instead, make it an adventure. Plan the day in advance; you could turn it into a treasure hunt or a spy game, looking for animals, birds and leaves. You can also break the walk with a homemade picnic. If you need an even bigger incentive, team up with another family with young children and turn the walk into a social event. But don’t be surprised if teens lose interest in walking; they may pick it up again later in life.
2) Cycling
Riding a bike is another great way to get those lungs working, and young children are often itching to get out on the bike. According to the British Medical Association, the health benefits of cycling outweigh the risks by a ratio of 20:1. It is healthier for a child to ride a bike than not to ride a bike. Busy roads may not be the best environment for a family cycle, so steer towards quieter lanes and forest roads for a more sociable and safer ride. Off-road tracks are great for kids to develop bike handling skills, and it will be more interesting for them to learn. Strap them into a helmet, pack some snacks to keep your spirits up, and hit the track! If their interest starts to wane, you can shake things up with some small jumps and rough terrain. Most of all, have fun with it – your child can be the next star cyclist!
3) Fun on the beach
If you are lucky enough to live near a beach, it is the perfect place for you to have fun outdoors with your family. Bring a soccer ball, volleyball, or frisbee and take advantage of the huge space you have to run around. Simply tossing a Frisbee back and forth between players can be enough to keep kids entertained for a long time. The windy conditions on the coast are also ideal for kite flying. Have everyone in your family make a kite and then head outdoors for a kite-flying contest. The person who keeps their kite up the longest wins. An obstacle course is another great way to get everyone active: have a race with beach chairs, blankets, and even sand toys and see who can complete it the fastest.
4) Games at Home
Now the idea of this article is to get kids outdoors and active, but sometimes the weather is not conducive to a long, wet, windy walk. But not all is lost! Think back to your childhood: hide and seek, tag, jumping, ball games… all these can be played indoors or in the garden and will get you and your kids up and moving. If it’s sunny outside you can always set up a relay race or garden furniture obstacle course – with prizes for the winner of course! If you’re concerned about your family’s safety, consider investing in a family health insurance policy for added peace of mind.
5) Trampoline
A trampoline might be the best piece of equipment to invest in for your family. Whether it is a huge garden trampoline or a small fitness trampoline, your children will love it. Host a competition to see who can jump the highest, or put on a show for everyone to show off their best moves. Jumping on a trampoline to music can make the activity even more engaging; it will certainly become a hit at birthday parties. But it will not only be popular with children, it will also keep them healthy – the trampoline is great for the heart, lungs and muscles. You might even find that your kids love it so much that they want to take a class. Be sure to take the necessary safety measures to avoid injury, and go ahead and move towards a healthy lifestyle.
