I’m a huge advocate of kids being active. It scares me when I read how obesity rates are rising and this generation of children may be outlived by their parents. Here are ten simple ways to disconnect with the electronics and reconnect with your family while having fun.
Bike rides are a fun family activity for every age and stage. With different bicycle attachments and seats, this is an activity you can do with toddlers to teens. If your child is grumbling about going, let them choose the route. Allowing your children to make decisions about an activity is a powerful motivational tool.
While you may think this is all about standing still while the wind makes your kite dance, think again. In order to get the kite off the ground, you have to run—the sprinting kind that will have you breathing hard and feeling like a kid again.
While lakes may still be a little cold in May for anything more than a quick dip, swimming with your kids is a fun activity that feels more like play than exercise. If the weather is bad, check local indoor pools for family swim times.
Challenge your kids to a race—running, jumping, skipping, ball throwing, three-legged, potato sack, relay, hoola hoop—the possibilities are endless. So is the fun you will have.
While most kids would say no to a walk with their parents, it’s all in how you present it. Turn any walk into an adventure by not telling them where you’re going. The walks can take place anywhere—in your neighbourhood, at a local park, or you can even drive to an area with trails and go for a hike. Bring a bag for each child so they can collect leaves, rocks, and other treasures they find along the way.
Never mastered the art of throwing a football? Always wanted to learn how to roller skate? What’s stopping you? Let your kids pick something they’ve always wanted to learn and have the whole family try it. This includes you, too! Be a role model and teach your children you’re never too old to try something new, and anything is possible.
Throw a baseball, kick a soccer ball, shoot some hoops with a basketball, hit the court for some tennis—it doesn’t matter what kind of ball, just know you’re going to have a ball spending time with your kids outside.
When’s the last time you’ve thrown a frisbee? This toy has stood the test of time for a reason—a frisbee is small, portable, easy to learn, and you can create a hundred different games or learn new tricks. It’s the the plastic disk that can create hours of fun.
This is a two-fold activity. Not only will you get down and dirty while digging in the dirt with your kids, you’ll teach them that wholesome food doesn’t come in a box or a bag. The added bonus is your kids will be more likely to eat something they’ve grown themselves.
A good old-fashioned water fight that is. You can create teams or make it a full on, get everyone wet, war. Grab the water guns, fill up balloons, or simply use wet sponges and let the fights…errr…games begin!
Now go out there and get active with your kids.
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