It can be hard to fit exercise in around a busy family life, but I think we can all agree that everyone feels and sleeps much better when they have moved more during the day. So how can you make sure everyone in your family stays as active as possible, without adding to your mental load? Read on for my top tips on how to exercise as a family.
Make it fun
Kids love scooting, skating, riding their bikes and playing in parks. Fitness doesn’t have to be regimented and it doesn’t have to look exactly the same every day. Mix it up and go with their suggestions. If they fancy the play area, why not go on the equipment with them, it’s a great full body workout!
Give it purpose
Let’s cycle to the supermarket to buy x, y and z. Let’s jog to the park, skate to cubs or scoot to the post box. Kids love to be useful. If possible, why not ditch the car for the school run, you’ll all feel better for a blast of fresh air twice a day!
There’s an app for that
How long will the walk be? Will there be a stream? When you exercise as a family, you could use an app like Map My Walk to answer questions about the length, landmarks and elevation of your walk. Show the children where you are and how much further it is to the paddling spot or viewpoint (or back to the car).
Count their steps
My children have the kids FitBit and they absolutely love setting their goals for the day/week and smashing them to pieces (the goals, not the Fitbits). A simple pedometer would also do the job nicely and make exercise as a family more enjoyable for everyone involved!
Make it part of your routine
Make exercise as a family as normal as brushing your teeth. Walk or cycle to school if you can, or if it’s too far, why not get off the bus a stop early or park the car slightly further away than usual and walk the rest of the way. Instead of going straight home after school, how about a lap of the park together or a game of tennis if there are courts nearby. If home is where the heart is, get some fresh air in the garden and kick a ball around together or play frisbee or catch.
In conclusion, exercising as a family has numerous benefits that go beyond just physical health. It promotes bonding, communication, and instills healthy habits in children from an early age. Exercising as a family sets a positive example for children, encouraging them to prioritise their own health and wellbeing. Whether it’s taking a walk, playing sports, or trying out new activities, the key is to find activities that everyone enjoys and can participate in.
I hope you feel inspired to try something from this post, let me know anything makes a difference to the activity levels of your family!
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