Fitness Lifestyle for Kids

In today’s youth sports world, so much exercise is based upon “kid-friendly” competitive sports.

My kids played youth sports, and for the most part, the kids were friendly with each other. (It was the parents that took it to a whole NEW LEVEL.)

The problem is when exercise is within the confines of competitive sports, kids may not learn to enjoy exercise for the benefit of health.  In fact, they may just learn to associate training with competitive sports. And for most of us, this ends after high school. However, we all know that life does not end after high school.

Another set of problems arise now that overscheduling is the norm.  Between work, school, school activities, kids sports, and technology, time seems to evaporate.

Despite all of these obstacles, it is important to teach our kids the importance of lifestyle exercise.  Where exercise is just a part of what they do on a daily.

In your fitness journey, look to help your kids understand that health and fitness are a lifestyle with these activities.

Winter Months – In winter, we tend to shut down, and our physical fitness seems to get put on the shelf.  Here are some ways to get moving: 

Indoors:

• Workout with exercise video games
• Learn to juggle
• Make a Game of Chores (Mopping, Vacuuming, etc.)
  

Outside:

• Snow Sledding, build a snow fort, make Frosty come to life one day, make snow angels
• Rake Leaves
• Go for a hike, bug-free!
  

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• Bowling
• Play racquetball or wallyball
• Take a Zumba Class or another fun aerobics class

Spring Months – Don’t let rain and chilly keep you from getting some fun fitness times in – 

Inside:

• Walk a circuit around the mall before the mall opens
• Do a 7-minute workout together, regularly
• Clean the house in time to music
  

Outside:

• Play hide and seek
• Exercise or dance to music in the yard
• Do a home decorating/ planting project 
  

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• Take self-defense classes
• Try a kickboxing class
• Have fun at a batting cage

Summer Months – It can go from beautiful out to hot-n-sweaty in 3.2.  Take advantage of the longer days.

Outside:

• Go for a bike ride
• Shoot baskets
• Go swimming
• Go camping
• Play softball
• Play with some sidewalk chalk and then hopscotch
• Plant a garden
• Take walks after dinner
  

Inside:

Get some fresh air outside already!

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• Walk up and get some ice cream
• Play miniature golf
• Play Frisbee golf

Autumn Months – Trees are changing, and the weather is getting colder.

Outside:

• Walk to school together
• Toss the football
• Play catch with baseball/gloves or a Frisbee
• Hike & explore a state park & go find the most impressive leaf
• Be in a parade
• Take dance lessons
• Play touch football
  

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• Run an obstacle course
• Run/Walk a 5K
• Go horseback riding
  

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