We may as well be honest with ourselves. We could all stand to be a little healthier in our day to day lives. Likewise, we could all stand to spend more time together as a family; engaging in a balanced diet of activities which will not only enrich our lives and bring us closer together but ensure that we are as fit and healthy as we can be. Given that most of us spend 8-10 hours a day sitting (which can have some pretty serious repercussions for our health) in an air-conditioned office under fluorescent lighting, by the time we get home from work most of us are already running something of a wellness deficit. To combat this try some of these fun activities to help keep the whole family active.
Keep the Whole Family Active with these fun Ideas
The good news is that getting the whole family up and active can be an inexpensive (or even free) affair. Aside from scouring these Canadian discount codes for deals on healthy foods and quality activewear, there is a range of ways in which the family can get fit and be more active together. And hey, you might just have a little fun, too! Whether you’re looking for a free alternative to the gym or simply something fun to do with your kids in your downtime, you would do well to give any of the following a try…
Hot Couch Potato
TV time is unfairly vilified by some parents. There’s no reason why a little bonding time watching a favorite movie or TV show can’t be a fun way to spend time together. Plus, who says it has to be at the expense of the family’s fitness?
The next time an ad break comes on, use this as an opportunity for a muscle toning challenge for the whole family.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and squat down so that your butts all hover about an inch above the couch. Hold this position for the duration of the ad break (or as long as you can). Feeling competitive? Perhaps the first butt to drop needs to do a forfeit. Get imaginative youngsters on board by convincing them that the sofa has become white hot. If your kids enjoy playing ‘the floor is lava’, they’ll be down with this!
Homework Hijack
Homework is an important activity that teaches your kids a valuable lesson in time management. However, they should also be encouraged to take breaks. This will allow their brains a chance to recharge, thereby assisting in their productivity. But these breaks can also be used to give their heart health and fitness a boost.
Take 3-5 minutes to race one another up and down stairs, or run a few laps of the block as a family. Not only will it give their overtaxed minds a rest, they’ll return to their homework with their fitness boosted and concentration levels improved.
Babycise
If you’ve recently had a baby, your little bundle of joy can be a huge boon for your fitness regimen. Any of these exercises can provide great resistance training while helping you to bond with your new little one…
- Baby curls- Lie face up. Slowly bring your knees up and gently place baby on your thighs. Crunch by contracting your abs to raise your head and shoulders above the ground, bringing you and your baby nose to nose.
- Baby shoulder press- Sit cross-legged on the floor holding your baby in front of your face. Lift baby up over your head and feel the burn while they giggle in excitement.
- Baby bench press- Lie on your back with knees bent and bring your baby up to your face. Extend your arms outward before bringing baby ever so slowly back to the start position. If you want to give them a little kiss at this point, who am I to judge?
Pursuing fitness as a family needn’t be a grueling chore. It can be a whole lot of fun and a great way to bond together. Throw in a few of these activities several times a week and it won’t take long for everyone to enjoy the benefits.
This was a collaborative post
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You’re so right, fitness can be achieved just about anywhere with the whole family by using some imagination. Thanks for this much needed reminder:)
You’re Welcome!
This gives me an another perspective. I am the person who would like to forever snuggle on her bed with a laptop to blog. I should definitely take care of my health and also that of my family when we are together! Such a great idea. Thank you.
Glad you found it helpful!
These are great tips to have fun and stay active at the same time. It’s so easy to fall into the lazy summer routine, but it’s the best time of the year to spend time with the kids, get outside and moving and just enjoy life.
It really is and it doesn’t have to be work if you make it into a game!