Establish a Fitness Culture in Your Family

Establish a Fitness Culture in Your Family

by Dr. LeiLani Vidal in Business Body Contouring

Children who enjoy exercise are raised in families that know how to make movement enjoyable. Kids refer to what we call "workouts" as play. Follow these simple guidelines to build a culture of play and fitness in your family.

Set aside certain "dark" hours for your computer and TV. When screens are removed, youngsters will frequently find other active ways to amuse themselves. Take your own advice: if you all decide to put the devices down, your kids will love spending time with you and will start to link exercise to quality time together.

Convert domestic tasks into enjoyable family activities. For instance, have everyone in the family wash the car while pausing to play a round of tag. Allow everyone to run through the sprinklers when it's time to water the yard. When should the leaves be raked? Build a pile for jumping in! The pile between will need to be recreated, adding to the task. Bring a timer and compete to see who can rake the most leaves.

Get a pet (or borrow one). A dog is a live-in playmate who is always up for a walk or a game of fetch. If you are unable to have one of your own, perhaps a neighbor would appreciate an additional playmate for his animal.

Play music continuously in your car and house. Movement is prompted by music, which can lead to amusement and play. Try holding a dance party from a specific decade, such as the 1980s, or organizing a family dance competition where family members can vote on the finest movements.
Together, learn a new sport. Everyone will start from the same place, and nobody is viewed as "better" than anyone else. A nice place to start might be with ladder golf, dance, or martial arts.

Always keep toys on hand. For times when you have a few extra minutes or are standing in line, keep balls and Frisbees in the car. If you throw the ball and spin before your partner returns it, see how many times you can catch it without dropping it. 

Everywhere, sneak in some exercise. For school pickup, park far away in the parking lot of the grocery store or a few blocks away. Enjoy yourself on the way back by skipping, playing follow the leader, singing marching songs (left, left, left, right, left...), or jogging in a "daisy chain" where each member of the chain alternates between the front and the back every ten steps.