It’s time to take action and commit as a family to getting healthy! These suggestions can guide you in reaching your family’s fitness objectives.
Quality Over Quantity
When families exercise together, they foster mutual respect, enhance their relationships, and meet essential fitness requirements.
Dr. Kim Foster, a family physician and author, states, “Simply being a ‘weekend warrior’ is often insufficient for effective fitness… The guidelines suggest that children need at least 60 minutes of activity daily, and adults should aim for a minimum of 150 minutes each week. Finding small pockets of activity as a family during the week—like a bike ride after dinner—can help everyone reach those goals.”
Parents might find a simpler approach to family fitness beneficial. Instead of rushing one child to a hockey practice and then sprinting to collect another at dance, why not engage everyone in a single activity together? Focusing on one sport for the whole family to participate in not only reduces time wasted waiting but also minimizes your vehicle’s carbon footprint and simplifies scheduling. Plus, it strengthens family ties through a collective experience.
Switching It Up
Participating in a fitness class as a family can be highly beneficial, notes Michael Walsh, director at Northern Karate Schools. “It’s incredibly healthy to switch roles… When a 10-year-old brown belt shows their mother the ropes to pass her yellow belt test, it builds a unique bond. Kids see that their parents also have to learn like they do, and parents gain a better understanding of the challenges involved in mastering [karate] techniques.”
Advantages of Staying Active
Foster emphasizes the numerous benefits of an active lifestyle, asserting, “The advantages of regular physical activity are nearly limitless: enhanced sleep, improved mood, increased fitness, and longevity… the advantages are extensive. However, being active with your family adds unique benefits, particularly the opportunity to model positive behavior. By demonstrating that staying active is both important and enjoyable, you not only enhance your children’s health now, but you also increase their chances of maintaining an active lifestyle as they grow.”
Making It Work
Will children actually want to sacrifice their hobbies to exercise with their parents? Deb Lowther, who has navigated this with her three active daughters, shares, “You might face some resistance. Kids have their ideas too, and sure, some days we’d all rather relax on the couch. However, get ready, plan that bike ride, explore outdoor trails together, learn to ski, try indoor rock climbing, or enjoy jumping on the trampoline with the kids. You’ll definitely have a blast and create lasting family memories.”
Make family fitness exciting by creating an idea jar, filled with quick weeknight activities (like taking a neighborhood walk) and a second jar for weekend adventures (like horseback riding). Rotate who picks out an activity from each jar to engage children in the decision-making process while giving parents control over the schedule.
Don’t remain inactive while your kids engage in exercise. Fitness is a family affair! Whether it’s a spontaneous game of tag in the backyard, a day of geocaching, or attending karate classes together three times a week, physical activities provide a fantastic opportunity for families to bond and utilize their time together effectively.
