Getting exercise in with your family can be a great bonding experience that brings you closer together. Here’s how to get moving with your kids!
The Big Benefits of Family Fitness
Family fitness is a great way to involve the whole family in healthier habits! Rather than parents and caregivers going off to the gym alone, or on the other hand, dropping their child off for sports practice, family fitness makes being active a group activity.
Whether it’s a hike, swimming in the pool, or having a dance party in the living room, approaching fitness as a family allows everyone to reap the health benefits of exercise. Some of these benefits include:
- Increased energy level
- Prevention and management of high blood pressure
- Obesity prevention and weight management
- Stress management
- Improved sleep
- Increased muscle strength
- Better heart and brain health
- Improved brain function, including memory and attention
Not to mention it also helps set kids up on a path toward healthy habits! Having role models and learning to integrate physical activity into their lives means it’s more likely they’ll stay active as they get older.
Tips for Getting Moving
Starting a family fitness plan can seem a little daunting at first, but with these tips, you and your family will stay on track!
Start Slow
One of the biggest problems people run into is doing too much too soon. When you start setting your active goals, it can be easy to get excited and set high goals for yourself and your family. But in reality, it’s not easy for anyone to go from infrequent or little exercise too long, intense periods of exercise every day. It’s not always practical or sustainable.
The best way to begin being active is to start slow. Set modest goals, share them with your kids, and make it a priority to achieve them. You can always increase exercise time as you all get stronger!
Create a Schedule
Between driving kids to school, getting to work on time, and balancing chores, you’re likely a busy-bee. That can mean exercise time can get pushed to the side and forgotten about.
Setting a schedule will help to ensure your family gets some sweat time in. Consider starting with two or three set fitness times each week and marking them on your calendar. Make sure your kids know when fitness time is so that they can be aware and if they’re older, avoid making plans during those times.
Make it Fun
One of the best tips to get moving with your family? Make it fun and interesting! Many families want to exercise but find that working out can be boring. Or worse, it involves doing activities they don’t want to do. The good news: there are plenty of ways to get in shape.
Sit-ups and going on runs might be ideal for one family, but they might not be right for yours. Hiking is a great way to get outside and get the blood flowing, and with so many beautiful trails, there are lots to look at and talk about while your family is getting active. Riding bikes is also a fun, family-friendly activity. Still not your ideal exercises? Playing games is a great exercise you and your kids will love! Play a family game of tag after dinner or have a “red-light, green-light” dance party. The possibilities are endless, so don’t be afraid to get creative and do something fun.
Limit Screen Time
Technology is a big part of everyone’s lives nowadays, but limiting screen time is important. Screens can get in the way of family fitness, so be sure to set boundaries and take breaks. That goes for parents, too! Taking breaks as a family from screens can be a great opportunity to get outside. This can help everyone feel more refreshed and ready to concentrate on school and work.
Focus on Togetherness
While exercising with your family, be sure to focus on building your family bonds. You’re getting to do everything as a unit, and that’s special. So the goal shouldn’t be to compete with one another. Instead, communicate with each other during workouts. You can use this time to talk, share experiences, and grow as a family. Even asking your kids how their day was can go a long way in opening communication. You can also let your kids take turns choosing which exercise the family will participate in to help them feel included and important.
Epic Kids is here for you and your family!
Epic Kids is Here for Your Family
No matter what exercise you and your family choose, getting together to get fitness time in is an incredibly rewarding experience in more ways than one! What’s your favorite activity to do with your kids that helps you all get fit?
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