It’s time to take action and embrace fitness as a family! Here are some tips to help you reach your family health objectives.
Quality Over Quantity
Engaging in physical activities as a family fosters mutual respect, strengthens relationships, and fulfills the essential exercise requirements for everyone.
Dr. Kim Foster, a family physician and mother, emphasizes, “It’s often insufficient to be a ‘weekend warrior’ regarding exercise … Guidelines recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes of activity daily, while adults should aim for a minimum of 150 minutes weekly. Incorporating brief activities with your family during the week—such as a bike ride after dinner—can assist in meeting these goals.”
Parents might want to adopt a less-is-more philosophy concerning family fitness. Rather than juggling separate activities for each child, why not enjoy a collective fitness experience? Choosing a single sport for the entire family not only minimizes downtime but also reduces your vehicle’s carbon emissions and streamlines scheduling—all while providing a shared experience that enhances family unity.
Changing Perspectives
Participating in structured fitness classes as a family can be immensely beneficial, according to Michael Walsh, director of Northern Karate Schools. “Flipping the script on who leads can be very constructive … When a young brown belt teaches his mother skills for her yellow belt test, it establishes a meaningful bond. Kids learn that parents also have to overcome challenges, while parents grow to appreciate the effort required to master these techniques.”
Health Advantages
Foster highlights numerous benefits of maintaining an active lifestyle. “The advantages of physical activity are nearly endless: enhanced sleep, improved mood, increased fitness, and longer life expectancy … the benefits are extensive,” she notes. “Moreover, being active as a family presents additional advantages, chiefly the modeling aspect. By prioritizing activity—while making it enjoyable—you not only boost your children’s current health but also elevate the chances they will stay active throughout their lives.”
Turning Intentions into Actions
Will children willingly forfeit their extracurricular activities to engage in fitness with their parents? Deb Lowther, a writer and mother of three active daughters, shares her perspective. “Some resistance is likely,” she acknowledges. “Kids, being kids, sometimes prefer to lounge on the couch. But don’t hesitate—put on your clothes, plan a bike ride, go hiking in mud, learn skiing together, or enjoy some time on the trampoline. You’ll create wonderful family memories and have a blast.”
Make family fitness enjoyable by establishing a jar with ideas for weeknight activities (short activities like neighborhood walks) and another for weekend adventures (longer endeavors like horseback riding). Rotate the selection process, allowing children to choose an activity each day while parents manage timing.
Do not remain inactive while your kids exercise. Fitness should be a family affair! From spontaneous backyard games to afternoons spent geocaching or attending karate classes, exercise allows families to share energy and valuable time.
