5 Ways to Get Fit With Your Kids TODAY!
Mama, let’s get moving!
Getting to the gym can be hard when you have a family at home. Heck, let’s be honest. It can even be difficult to workout at home if you have a gym in your basement (cough, cough, that’s me!)
We need to let go of the fact that “working out” needs to look a certain way. You do not have to run on a treadmill for 40 minutes sporting a sweatband to get in your dose of daily exercise.
Granted, going to the gym and having a fitness routine certainly have value, but sometimes it just isn’t feasible.
Mom confession: I despise the treadmill. I despise running. I’m two minutes into a jog and feel like I’ve been running for 20 minutes and am counting down the seconds till it’s over. Fun?! No. Not at all. That’s why I don’t run that way.
Instead, I run WITH my kids, chasing them around! I've also been known to jump on beds :) My kids have adopted the same behavior!
Kids are the best fitness partners. Not only do they naturally love to move and exert energy, they have FUN doing it. Their joy is contagious.
Use this to your advantage!
You and your kids will benefit greatly and together will establish a healthy lifestyle that they will take into adulthood.
Teach your children that they are their body’s keeper by modeling this for them.
I was going to list all of the health concerns established with lack of physical activity in young children, but I think you know them. Likewise, you’re probably aware of the benefits.
However, I wanted to share some benefits of physical activity that go beyond the usual.
This is taken straight form the CDC’s website:
Physical Activity and Academic Achievement
The benefits of physical activity are vast.
For mental and physical health, get your daily dose by doing a few of these today:
1.) DANCE!
Dance is rooted in our very being. In fact, our ancestors had ritualistic dances that they used to celebrate, honor, and commemorate their daily lives. Unfortunately, modern families have lost this part of our tradition.
Most of us do not dance every day. Sure, we dance at weddings and parties, but dancing does not require a special occasion. Nor does it require a background in hip hop. Not comfortable dancing? No worries! Your kids don’t care how you look! Let your spirit move ya!
Need some movement inspiration? Tell them that they are “the leader” and mimic the moves they do! Kids always get a kick out of that. Or, if you’re feeling less than inspired, simply do the old trusted Hokey Pokey. If you aren’t winded after doing the Hokey Pokey with gusto, you are definitely more fit than me! I can pretty much guarantee that your kids will ask you to do it one more time.
Find a time in your daily routine to dance. Is this right in the morning to get your blood flowing? Is this an hour before bedtime to get those wiggles out before winding down? Figure out what works for your family. Turn on some tunes and dance, dance, dance!
2.) GET OUTSIDE!
When in doubt, Get out! Get out!! The outdoors naturally invites movement. Open the door and get out! Whether this is in your backyard, or at the local park, kids LOVE being outside.
Follow their lead. A game of tag, follow the leader or making a stick pile are all great ways to get moving in nature.
Don’t let imperfect weather stop you. When dressed appropriately, you and your kids can enjoy the outdoors in many conditions. Just no lightning or horrible storms. You’ll find me in the basement then…maybe, maybe on my stationary bike, but probably not.
Who decided that a bike that goes NOWHERE was a good idea?
3.) MOVEMENT GAMES!
Instead of making animal sounds…make animal movements! Run like a cheetah, swim like a fish, jump like a kangaroo, crawl like a bear.
The possibilities are endless. Remember: this doesn’t have to look a certain way. If your child is crawling instead of jumping, let them explore their movement and their body in their way. That’s half the fun. There are no rules!
Sick of animals? How does a monster move? A transformer? A dinosaur? A favorite character in a book? Get creative!
“Kids are the best fitness partners. Not only do they naturally love to move and exert energy, they have FUN doing it. ”
Side note: Parents have a tendency to guide their children’s play a bit too much. Guilty as charged over here! We think that play needs to look a certain way because of our own preconceived notions or expectations. If our child is building a tower with legos, it has to look like the tower we have in mind or at least resemble a tower. A certain toy is “supposed” to be played with “this” way. Fight the temptation to do this. This is how your child’s imagination develops. Don’t stifle it! If your child is supposed to jump like a monkey but instead is crawling like a caterpillar…let them have at it! Maybe they are being a baby monkey or their monkey is in quicksand. How are you to know what their little brain is up to?
4.) OBSTACLE COURSE!
Before you get worried thinking that this is going to be complicated…don’t fret. Obstacle courses don’t need to look like American Ninja Warrior.
Simple is better. For two reasons:
1.) Your kids will be able to DO the obstacle course successfully
2.) Your kids will be inspired to build their own
Yesterday, we made an obstacle course in our backyard using two hula hoops and two small hand-held monster trucks. Pretty much anything can be a part of an obstacle course.
I had my kids “drive” their monster trucks up to the hula hoops that were on the ground, do one circle around the hula hoop. Stand in the middle of the hula hoop and pick it up over their heads, then run to our fire pit. Done.
This kept them entertained for quite a while and soon enough, my 3 year old was adding his own challenges to the “momstacle course” as he coined it :)
Take your time to go through the steps of the obstacle course and model for them what needs to be done, but again, no worries if it isn't done the way you modeled for them. You have to participate too, Mom! Get out there!
Try to do age appropriate challenges (hopping, cartwheels, bearcrawling, etc.) If you have kiddos that are developmentally different, adjust their obstacle course accordingly. A 1 year old can jump up and down five times, a 5 year old can do 5 jumping jacks. A 5 year old can ride a bike, a 2 year old can run...
5.) STRETCH AT NIGHT
This is a great way to get some daily movement and establish a bedtime ritual with your kids. Put some relaxing music on, dim the lights and get in a circle.
Remember…this doesn’t have to look perfect.
Tell your kids that you are going to stretch at night because it is good for the body. Then, simply model it.
Take your time.
It might take a few nights for your kids to really participate, but stick with it. Every time you do this, your kids will better understand what “stretching” looks like and will be more engaged in the ritual of it.
Focus on your stretching rather than trying to control theirs.
Simply tell them what you’re doing. “I am stretching my legs now by grabbing my toes” in a relaxing voice. Tell them very simply how it feels, “I love stretching my neck. It helps me relax.”
Don’t expect them to follow your lead completely. Allow them the freedom to explore their own stretches.
Bonus: By establishing an evening ritual like this, your children’s bodies will recognize this as a signal that bedtime is approaching and will help them fall asleep more easily.
Keep your daily activities simple and easy. This will ensure that you DO them!
The idea is to make daily activity fun for YOU and your kids to establish daily movement as a lifestyle. If you’re not having fun, your kids will pick up on that.
The end goal is to make daily movement fun and enjoyable.
How do you get your kids moving? Leave a comment below!
Cheers,
Nicolette