Wellness for the Whole Family
According to the American Heart Association, with very few exceptions, children should stay active throughout the day.
Fitness at every age is important. Possibly even more so for children as they are developing habits that will last a lifetime.Creating a corporate wellness program has the potential to initiate a long list of wins for your team and your company.
In the last blog post, Movement 1st Wellness covered the importance of falling in love with your fitness to improve your fit and work lives. Fitness is not just for mom, dad, granny, papa, or aunties and uncles; it’s for the kiddos in your life, too!
According to the American Heart Association, with very few exceptions, children should stay active throughout the day. Caregivers of kids six and older should aim to encourage a minimum of an hour of moderate to vigorous activity every day to maintain a healthy weight, along with optimal heart, brain, and general body wellness. This is, of course, in addition to providing well-balanced meals and hydration.
Just like you, your kids will benefit from increasing their activity levels on several levels. Giving them opportunities to be active will improve their overall wellness and even lead to a better school life. Getting their “wiggles out” improves their sleep, ability to focus, and retention levels. It can even make them hungrier and possibly more open to trying new veggies. OK. Maybe not that last one, but caregivers can hope, right?
With a fun focus on being active, your kids are likelier to be active as adults. Falling in love with the process is a great reward for keeping the idea of movement something to look forward to. Even further, kids who are active experience the following benefits:
Reduction in frequency (and shortening) of illnesses
Stronger bones
Increased confidence and problem-solving skills
Reduction of the effects of stress and anxiety
Lower depression rates
Quality sleep
Lower risk of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes
Stronger muscles, improved coordination, and balance, making the usual bumps and bruises of kid life less likely
During the school year, soccer season, and probably on vacations too, this may be as simple as ensuring your kiddos are involved in a very active P.E. session, getting game and practice time in, and taking walking tours of fun spots near you. However, school breaks, between sports seasons, and those lazy summer days happen. Don’t worry; you don’t need to jump in as a drill coach or tour guide suddenly; there are plenty of fun (or super helpful) ways to encourage movement you can try with your family.
Fact #1: Kids love swings. Fact #2: Kids need sunshine and playtime.
Combining them just makes sense!
While there are a handful of great “on-screen” active games like the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation’s Dance Dance Revolution, there is something to be said for getting away from screens and into the sunshine (with a healthy layer of sunscreen!) that adds a bit of “oomph” to active time.
Here are a few ideas to get the whole family moving! Make adjustments for the skill and age levels of your children. Don’t worry; attention spans will increase with practice, and even teenagers will appreciate your efforts if you make them something they are interested in. This list is just a start to provide you with a bit of inspiration. Get creative in your space!
Play classic playground games at the park or in your backyard.
Make up a circuit-style plan for the playground – you can even time your kiddos how long it takes to slide, swing, and then cross the monkey bars.
If you have older kiddos, you can create a family step challenge.
Plan active family weekends around mini-golf, bowling, or batting cages.
During the summer, take advantage of your community pool.
Encourage family yoga – or jumping jacks – time on commercial breaks.
Housework counts! Teach your kids to vacuum, dust, or sweep. You can even make a competition out of picking up misc. items around the house!
Some online workout routines are intended to be done with a partner – do YOUR workout with your kid. YouTube is helpful here.
Dance breaks are always a good idea at any age.
Weather permitting, begin a post-dinner walk around the block.
** Bonus Idea ** Kids love bubbles – invest in a machine or break out the individual bottles and wand.
No matter what activity you choose, make sure not to make a big deal about it. When being active is part of everyday life, your children are more likely to adopt it, look forward to it, and even make suggestions!
If you’re stuck on ideas or want help developing a more formal plan for your family’s specific situation, do not hesitate to get in touch! Send an email or give me a call at 719.468.9755. I’m happy to offer my expertise from my own mom life and work with private training clients.
