Parenting: Family Fitness Ideas
Family Fitness Ideas
Parents often comment about how easy it was to fit in exercise
before kids. Popping off to the gym before or after work, taking an
impromptu spin round the block on your bike should the need arise
or taking a swim on a summery day was so easy without having to
worry about who's looking after your children.
If you want to get fit and healthy, and have a partner, talk to
them about how you can arrange your individual timetables so you
can both get exercise. The physical separation from your children
isn't just great for your physical health, its good for your mental
health too. You may be too puffed to realise, but being about to
let your mind wander during a hilly walk has to be one of the best
benefits of exercising sans kids.
If you are on your own and have the children with you all the time,
find out if there are parents near you in the same boat. You can
arrange short timed drop offs to fit your exercise in. There are
sometimes casual rates at gyms and swimming pool crches, but if you
have more than one child that gym visit starts to look a wee bit
expensive.
If all else fails, you can exercise with your kids, and give them
the benefit of a wee bit of running around too.
Make your family times fitness times
Kids love going for nature walks and it not only gets you out and
about in the fresh air but it can provide a cardio workout as well.
Walk to a local park and race around the perimeters- you can walk
briskly and they can run. If your children are in a pushchair, take
them for a hilly walk where you need to first push the pram up the
hill, and then pull against it on the way down for a full body
workout.
Scooters and Bikes
Anything with wheels can help your children move a little easier.
Getting into the habit of family bike rides gives you all a good
workout. Take them for a bike ride to a park a little further away
from home, to give them a change of scenario and a few more minutes
of exercise. Little ones love to be in bike trailers and the extra
weight of the trailer with child can provide a good workout for mum
or dad.
Swimming is always a winner
While it's hard to get a few laps in when you are holding a baby,
take a friend and play swappsies with the children's supervision.
Or use it as a weights challenge, walking in the water in a squat,
carrying the baby from one end of the pool to the other. They'll
love the close contact and you'll love the workout.
Just play play play
Of course if you just want to have fun then do! Play chasey games,
skittles, out door cricket or jump on the trampoline. Put on some
music during a rainy day and dance around, or play an active
version of follow the leader.
Use your baby as a weight.
If you have ever tried to do sit ups at home with children you'll
quickly realise they'll want to use your body as a playground. Use
this to your advantage, and use them as extra resistance. Let them
sit on your stomach, helping you focus on your core muscles. Put
them on your knees while you are doing chair lifts. Even squatting
to pick them up and lift them as you stand then slowly squat back
down to put them back to the ground will give you a great full body
workout.
By exercising with your children, not only will you be providing
them the building blocks of a healthy lifestyle, you will also be
giving you both some great bonding times.
