10 ways to exercise as a family this summer
Exercise is important, which is why it’s crucial to get your kids interested in fitness from a young age. They don’t have to lift weights or do heavy cardio, but there are plenty of age-appropriate ways the whole family can stay fit together. We’ve compiled the 10 best activities below.
- Pre- or post-meal walks. Exercising as a family doesn’t always have to be taxing. A moderately paced stroll around the park or community is a fine form of exercise, especially if you’re doing it regularly.
- Outdoor dance party! The weather is perfect this season for getting your boogie on. Throw some tunes the whole family loves onto your wireless speaker or boombox and head outside for a little dancing. Get some other families in the neighborhood to join in on the fun, too, and you can have a great time socializing while you exercise.
- Visit all the parks. If your community has several green spaces open to the public, why not take advantage of all of them? You could make it into a seasonal tour, of sorts, where you visit a different park each week. You’ll be showing your children the value of public spaces and the importance of protecting them.
- Start a little friendly competition. Sports and other physical games are a great way to get the whole family in fitness. While you’re out at one of the community parks, bring along a ball or frisbee, and create a little competition among the group. Kids can face off against parents, or captains can choose teams. Just make sure things don’t get too competitive — the point of this isn’t so much to win, but to have fun while working out.
- Turn chores into a game. Work around the home doesn’t just go away when the warmer months arrive. With no school, kids will have more time to devote to these household chores, but that doesn’t mean they have to spend much time doing them. Set up a little competition to see who can get their tasks done the fastest. This will help get everyone moving more quickly while also making sure the work gets done in less time.
- Team up on yard work. The aforementioned tip can extend into any outdoor work you may need to get done. While it doesn’t have to turn into a game, it is a physical enough activity to count as exercise!
- Take a class together. A yoga, zumba, or other exercise class is great for a family with slightly older children. It is a good way to push everyone’s physical limits, but do so in a way that is safe and structured.
- Set aside a night to play FitDeck. FitDeck is a set of cards with exercises. When you pick a card from the deck, you have to complete the activity on it. It’s a simple enough game, but it can make for a really great workout!
- Weekly bike rides. Just like a walk, biking around your community can be a leisurely way to burn some extra calories. What’s more, it’s a great way to enjoy the feeling of the wind in your hair, and who doesn’t enjoy that?
- Play water tag. Grab some water balloons, fill them up, and chase each other around an open space with them! It’s the ideal hot summer day activity if you’re looking to stay active.
10 Ways to make exercise fun for your family [She Knows]
10 Ways to Exercise as a Family [Parents]