Are you looking for fun and alternative ideas to get yourself and your kids out and about in a stress-free way? There are plenty of things you can try to be more energetic and healthy as a family, from young babies to older children… and they’re easy enough for parents to enjoy and participate in too!
The benefits of moving
One of the most important things you can do for your health is to move often! Regular physical activity:
- decreases your risk of heart disease
- gives you more energy to do your daily activities
- helps you manage your weight
- keeps your bones and muscles strong
- makes your brain healthier
Moving more can become part of your family’s lifestyle in pursuit of better health. Try these six suggestions to get your family moving:
1. Build your own obstacle course
Building your own obstacle course is an activity that provides entertainment right from setting it up. Set out cardboard boxes, hoops, ladders, pillows, rope and any other items you find around the house or hidden away in your garage and create a fun and challenging family obstacle course either indoors or outside.
You can easily adapt the course to varying degrees of difficulty to meet each family member’s age or fitness level. Make sure to include a stopwatch to see who completes the course in the quickest time!
2. Do aqua aerobics in the pool
Instead of just having a swim, use your pool for a family aqua aerobics session. Bring out the pool noodles, boogie boards and beach balls. Play some tunes and get those arms and legs moving. You’ll benefit from a good cardio routine, plus you may even lose a few kilos!
Babies can be exposed to water in the safety of mom or dad’s arms, toddlers can use water wings or other floating aids, while older siblings can practice kicking and splashing amidst the water workout.
3. Go for a walk or bicycle ride
Keen to get some fresh air? Go for a brisk walk or bike ride around your neighbourhood. Here jogger prams and tandem bikes can be a hit! Got a Smartwatch? Use it to track everyone’s footsteps or kilometres! Set a daily, weekly or monthly goal for the family, and then a reward for reaching it.
4. Play a family game
There’s no better way than some good old-fashioned games to get your whole family moving and having fun. You don’t even need electricity – a simple activity like tag or racing around the house can get everyone’s heart rate up.
Throw in a soccer or basketball, or you can even create a fitness deck or activity dice to turn working out into a fun family game. Track and compare your heart rates for extra fun!
5. Start playing a sport together
Why not join a local sports club? Whether it be social tennis, soccer, running or even martial arts, spending time together as a family and doing sport helps you learn about teamwork. The bonus? You get to exercise and enjoy doing something different together outside the home.
6. Take a virtual class
Virtual classes have grown enormously in popularity since lockdown, and today many fitness instructors and gyms share free exercise classes online that are designed for the whole family. Simply connect a streaming device to your TV and search for virtual classes that are geared towards getting families moving, regardless of the fitness level.
You can take your pick from a variety of workouts – from dance cardio and family yoga to aerobics or even Tae Bo – just find what suits your family by searching for various fitness-related hashtags online.
There are many more ways to get and keep your family interested in moving. In addition to eating fresh, nutritious meals and getting enough sunlight and fresh air, exercise reaps long-term benefits. The earlier your children start learning and experiencing this, the healthier you’ll all be!
Date Published: 18 May 2023
