It's important that you make every effort to ensure exercise is a family activity, so here are 5 tips on how to make fitness a family affair.
Physical activity really should be a non-negotiable in our daily lives. We understand that finding time to work out can be difficult, especially with kids in the equation.
That's why it's vital to make fitness a family affair and get the kids involved from a young age.
Regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your health. It improves your brain health, helps manage weight, reduces the risk of disease, strengthens bones and muscles, and gets endorphins flowing to make you feel good.
And it's important that you lead by example and make sure your kids not only see you working out, but actually get involved.
In fact, children should be physically active for 60 minutes or more each day.
So, here are 5 tips on how to make fitness a family affair.
5 tips on how to make fitness a family affair
- Turn it into a game: Play is natural to kids, so why not make exercise a game to get them motivated and involved. Try a game of catch or hopscotch, try races in the garden, a dance off in the living room, or set up little obstacle courses for them.
- Include their friends: What better way to get kids motivated to do anything? Involving their friends will pique their interest for longer and ensure things don't get boring for them.
- Go outdoors: The beauty about exercise is that there's no rule book. You can literally do any sort of physical activity, anywhere, and you'll feel the benefits. The best way to keep the whole family invested is to spend time outdoors and get moving in nature. Whether that's games in your favourite park, football on the beach, or hikes or bike rides, the opportunities are endless.
- Make exercise an adventure: The most important thing to remember here is that fitness should always be fun. It should never feel like a chore, and the worst thing you could do is force your kids into doing it. Try something new each time, set family goals and maybe even a rewards system, and you could incorporate things like letting a different family member choose the activity each time, or pick options out of a hat. The more imaginative and creative you can be, the better. And your family, and your fitness levels, will thank you for it!
- Sign up for an event: This could be a family 5k run, a fun event at your gym, or something less obvious like a beach clean-up. And you could make it even more fun by dressing up! The important thing is not to overthink it. Exercise doesn't always have to mean a typical workout. It really is anything that involves moving your body.