Getting your kids to participate in regular exercise can be an exercise in patience. However, you may have an easier time with this if you participate in physical activities with them. Aside from helping them stay healthy, keeping active together allows all of you to build stronger bonds. If you’re looking to add more activities to your family workout schedule, here are three options to start with.
Hit the Slopes
Downhill skiing and snowboarding are two of the most enjoyable winter activities you can do as a family. These activities work the whole body, as well as giving you an excuse to be outside when the world looks pristine and peaceful. You get a great workout along with an enjoyable activity. It’s common to burn between 300 and 600 calories when you ski or snowboard.
It’s easier to encourage your family to exercise when that exercise comes with a large element of fun, like a trip to a cool ski resort. If you do go this route, keep safety in mind. Be sure to wear protective headgear and be smart on the slopes as skiing and snowboarding increases your risk for CTE. (CTE is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, which can come from repeated trauma to the head.) Be sure to remember your goggles, as the sun reflecting on the snow is quite hard on the eyes.
Join a Gym
Plenty of families find that pumping iron in the gym builds both muscle strength and family bonds. Having a gym membership also encourages all of you to work out when the weather gets bad.
There are other benefits aside from this, however. When you work out with your kids, you also have the opportunity to teach them how to use the equipment properly. You’re also helping them to develop healthy habits, which can encourage them to keep working out long after they grow up.
Shovel the Neighbors’ Driveway
This suggestion is more service-oriented but still fun. It’s likely that you have elderly or disabled neighbors who have trouble doing basic winter chores, like shoveling the sidewalk or driveway.
Taking on the task of shoveling their driveways and sidewalks and doing it as a family sends your kids some valuable messages. First, it teaches them to become involved in their community. Second, it demonstrates your commitment to not only health but also to the betterment of your corner of the world. Finally, it shows them that activities done together can be fun and rewarding, even if they don’t include a trip to a theme park.
Families who play together know how to combine fitness and fun. They also provide each other with encouragement, an important component of a consistent workout plan. Finally, it’s important to note that working together can be both fun and beneficial for you, your family and your community.
Here’s another article you might like: 4 Tips to Help You Stay Safe This Winter
