The Best Tips for Fun Family Fitness

The Best Tips For Fun Family Fitness

The best tips for fun family fitness is easier to put into practice and less time consuming than you think. Life can be hectic and busy which makes spending time with family that much more important. What is also important is making sure you’re spending QUALITY TIME together. I call this family fun ‘with a purpose’. Sitting in front of the television or the computer after a long day is tempting. Some days this is my reality, however, the goal is not to make this the norm.

How to get your family physically active while having fun.

Below I hope you find the best tips for fun family fitness that gets your family active and in tune with each other.

What is Fun Family Fitness?

Fun Family Fitness is purposeful as it helps teach children the importance of being physically active.

This does not necessarily mean implementing a standard exercise routine with push ups and sit-ups.

Family Fitness is getting the body moving while also building a stronger connection with your family unit.

Scheduling time throughout the week for family fun can establish a routine and expectation for physical activity at home.

Being creative is a necessity especially for physical activity with toddlers. Doing the same thing over and over can get old but if the family enjoys the particular activity.

Family Fitness Activities DO NOT need to cost money. You are only limited by your own imagination or Family Fitness ideas noted below.

What Gets In The Way of Family Fitness Taking Place?

Set SMART goals. Smart goals are created to help you map out a plan so that you are able to be successful in accomplishing your objective. Without this step in place you can be sabotaging yourself. The acronym breaks down as follows:

Specific:
Your goal should be clear and specific. When your goal is not clear and sensible you won’t focus your efforts on the goal or have the motivation to move on the goal.
For example, I want my family to spend time together each week being physically active with the intent of building physical fitness into our lifestyle and strengthening our family unit.

Measurable:
We have to be able to look back and know we have made progress.
For example, ‘Each Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday my family will spend 20 minutes engaging in a family fitness challenge’.

Attainable:
The goal needs to be realistic and attainable.
For example, ‘We can achieve this goal by making sure all after school activities and after hours work responsibilities are scheduled on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays so as not to interfere with family fitness days’.

Relevant:
This step answers if this goal can improve the health and dynamics of the family.

Time Bound:
Make sure you are not stretched to thin. If two days a week is what would make you successful then allow that to be the consistent time frame used each week. When you find success here try and add a day. Consistency can create a lifestyle change in the fitness world.

Other steps to take to avoid sabotaging your ability to accomplish this goal are noted below:

No Incentive:
Sometimes we need an incentive to get moving. Establish what that looks like for your family. Work toward a family trip or outing. This can also be fitness related for instance, a trip to a popular hiking trail.

Sleep:
Make sure each member of the family gets the appropriate amount of sleep.

Accountability:
Hold each other accountable.

20 Best Tips to Have More Fun Family Fitness

Plan A Post Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Walk

There is nothing more fulfilling than taking a break from all distractions and reconnecting with family during a nice leisurely walk. Couple that with burning off a meal and you got yourself a sweet deal. During these walks my little one talks most about the things on his mind. It’s really interesting the things he stirs up in that little mind.

Dance Party

The best type of workouts to me is one where you don’t know you are actually working out. Having a dance party with toddlers who go non stop can help you get some good cardio in for the day. Not to mention the many laughs and pictures for later comedic review are enough to brighten the heart.

Visit New Community Destination

Have you ever been talking to a neighbor or friend and they shared about a park, playground, or garden that is right under your nose and you didn’t know it. I have found a number of jewels this way for the family to explore. Some of which are my kiddos favorite places to visit. Luckily, we can visit these places and still practice social distancing.

Hiking

Kids are natural explores and want to touch and be close to everything in nature. This is one of the best parts of hiking. Keep in mind hiking for small children is about the experience so picking a location with streams, ponds, plant life, animals, insects. These features can keep them motivated to continue their exploration and avoid a meltdown from boredom.

Swimming Pool

Swimming allows your child to develop water safety and survival skills, builds strength, muscle tone, balance and coordination. I have pretty cool memories with family around the pool. My way of learning to swim was unorthodox but I learned nevertheless. I would stress the importance of swim lesson very early on.

Our children have access to water and we want to make sure they have basic skills to survive in water. As parents we do our best to keep an eye on our kiddos but they still find seconds to be a little mischievous. I have plans to enroll my kiddos for Infant Swim, which is the safest provider of survival swimming lessons for children 6 months to 6 years of age.

Gardening

Movements such as raking, mowing, weeding, pruning, and digging are all great ways for the family to exercise together. Gardening has been therapeutic for me as an adult. It is definitely more fulfilling when I have the help from the family.

Visit The Beach/Ponds/Parks

Memories of family birthdays in our community park were the best fun outings. The older kiddos walked the trails and the younger kiddos rolled down the hills or played in the open field. Many community parks also have water parks and canoeing. There is much to appreciate while enjoying family company.

Create An Obstacle Course

If you have basic outside toys (i.e. jump rope, hula hoop, bikes, balls) you are set for a creative fun fitness challenge. Include an incentive just for the fun of it.

Visit Farms throughout the year

Depending on where you live you could find some amazing farms who offer educational tours and an opportunity to get up close with farm animals. I don’t know if you have been to a farm lately but usually this includes a lot of walking. Bring comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes. Visiting a farm with the family is another great opportunity for building memories. My son still remembers visiting the strawberry patch at two years old.

Frisbee toss

I remember playing frisbee with my track and field teammates on easy practice days. Let me tell you my coaches knew what they were doing because what a great workout. This was so much fun! I found a frisbee at our local store for a dollar and we get a good 20-30 min fun workout in while having so much fun. Playing against a team of family members is the most enjoyable fun ever.

Ride Bike/balance bike for toddlers

We haven’t progressed to bike riding as a family yet but my son enjoys taking his balance bike on our family walks. We take advantage of this time to help our kiddo learn balance and coordination which is important for injury prevention, self-regulation, and developing a foundation for future development of fine motor skills. Balance bikes are one of many amazing resources for teaching your early learner holistically.

Play Tag or Hide And Seek

Do you remember how many hours you spent as a child playing tag and or hide and seek. Who says you can’t have the same kind of fun with your kids as adults. My kiddos enjoy this game when we are stuck inside the house. We set clear rules for safety reasons and we commence with the fun. Now, I have to admit I get burned out before they do but who says you can’t take a break on the couch for a moment before rejoining the family.

Wash the Car

Some times getting wet and making a mess of yourself is a necessary occurrence in order to get the laughs and giggles from your family. Not to mention you really get a pretty great leg and arm workout. Again, working out without knowing it is the best.

Roller Skate

My kiddos have not reached an age to begin skating but I am excited to introduce this activity to them. I so enjoyed going to the skating rink or outside and spending hours on my skates. It was so freeing and therapeutic for me as a child. Roller skating helps improve balance, strength of abdominals and lower-back muscles, as well as coordination practice.

Martial Arts

My husband grew up practicing martial arts and he gloats about the many benefits including teaching self defense, discipline, and improves cardiovascular/strength. Some martial arts studios offer family lessons. We have not yet sought out this as an option, however, when the children are older, this will likely be a popular family fitness option.

Simon Says

Who doesn’t like Simon Says? I actually used this in group therapy with my clients to practice calming skills, however, you can use this game for exercises. The family will get a kick out of this game.

Chalk Maze of Exercises

Draw a sidewalk chalk obstacle course. Each family member can create their own exercises to write in each section.

Go Noodle

Are you stuck inside due to the pandemic or cold weather and wonder what you can do with the kiddos? Visit Go Noodle and find movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. When I have to take a break from the abuse of pesky mosquitos I will allow screen time. (Free)

Little Sports

These cute workout videos teach kids a number of different exercises to do at home including full body exercises, stretches, physical activity to promote movement

Play A Sport

You can never go wrong with a friendly game of basketball, soccer, flag football, volleyball, etc.

The Last Thing You Need to Know about Family Fitness

These fun family fitness ideas are meant to broaden your thinking about fitness as it relates to your family. Exercising can be specific to your family’s needs but more importantly you are teaching your children the importance of healthy habits and fitness. Have fun on your family fitness journey!