Physical activity is not only a great way to get the blood flowing and the heart pumping, but it’s also a great way for your family to bond, too. Adding at least 30 minutes of exercise into your family’s daily routine will help establish beneficial habits and get your crew on the right track toward healthy living. Here are a few tips for incorporating physical activity into family time:
Let the kids pick the workout.
By letting your kids choose the workout, you are sure to keep them engaged. Give them a list of fun activities ranging from a bike ride to jumping rope or playing a game, such as soccer or tag, to choose from. Let your kids think outside of the box and get creative. They might just make up a game all their own!
Do a fun activity every day.
Be consistent. By doing a fun physical activity for 30 minutes every day, you are establishing a routine and giving your kids something to look forward to. You can create a schedule and track the activities you have done. If your family is competitive, I recommend creating a daily challenge to add a little fuel to the fire. The more excited they are about playing games with mom, dad, and their siblings, the more likely they are to stay active and mentally link exercise with good times.
Incorporate music.
Music is a great way to get everyone energized and increase endurance. No matter the age, there’s a song that motivates you! Let your kids pick the playlist or find one that will keep your family motivated for the duration of the activity. Play it aloud on your phone, computer, smart TV, or wireless speaker and get to moving. Consider doing one fitness move like jogging in place or skipping around the yard per song for 30 minutes to add a great deal of variety to your routine.
Use household items as equipment.
You don’t need fancy equipment to get the family moving. Finding items like milk jugs, books, canned goods, laundry detergent, or backpacks filled with miscellaneous items will help you incorporate resistance training into your family activities. Give your kids the freedom to pick their special workout items and challenge them. You could even go equipment-free and use sidewalk chalk to draw a one-of-a-kind hopscotch course in the driveway. The possibilities are endless!
We are all in this together, Memphis. Instead of seeing this prolonged time at home as an inconvenience, I encourage you to make the most of it by being intentional about how you spend it with your loved ones. A little positivity and physical activity can go a long way in boosting our moods and outlooks. Stay safe, stay healthy and stay active.
Chris Collins, MS, is the Memphis 901 FC strength and conditioning coach and is a certified personal trainer. For more information on Chris Collins Fit or to learn more about the personalized workouts Chris can create for you and your family, please visit chriscollinsfit.com.