Family Fitness Together

It’s time to stop being passive and make a commitment to family fitness! These strategies will assist you in attaining your family fitness aspirations.

Simplicity Wins

Exercising as a family nurtures respect among members, strengthens connections, and meets essential physical fitness needs for everyone involved.

According to Dr. Kim Foster, a family doctor and a mother, “Being a ‘weekend warrior’ is often insufficient for maintaining physical activity… Guidelines recommend that children engage in at least 60 minutes of activity daily, while adults should aim for 150 minutes each week. Incorporating short activities with your family during the weekdays, like an evening bike ride, can assist in reaching these objectives.”

Consider adopting a less-is-more strategy when it comes to family fitness. Instead of rushing one child to a sport while picking another up from a different class, everyone can participate in a single fitness activity together. This approach reduces sitting time while waiting, decreases your vehicle’s carbon emissions, simplifies your schedule, and fosters family bonding through a shared experience.

Role Reversal

Engaging in a structured fitness class as a family provides substantial benefits, as noted by Michael Walsh, director of Northern Karate Schools. “Flipping the script on who leads is very beneficial… When a 10-year-old brown belt instructs her mother on the techniques needed to advance through her yellow belt, it fosters a bond that enriches family dynamics. Children recognize that their parents need to learn too, while parents gain a deeper understanding of the effort involved in mastering certain skills.”

The Health Advantages

Dr. Foster emphasizes the myriad benefits associated with remaining active. “The advantages of an active lifestyle are nearly limitless: improved sleep, enhanced mood, better fitness, increased lifespan… and the list goes on.” She adds that participating in fitness activities as a family amplifies these benefits, particularly in terms of role modeling. By demonstrating to your children that physical activity is both important and enjoyable, you not only strengthen their health in the present but also enhance the likelihood that they will remain active throughout their lives.

Making It Work

Will your kids truly be willing to give up their activities to exercise with you? Deb Lowther, a writer and mother of three active daughters, shares her experiences: “There will be some pushback,” she admits. “Kids are kids, after all. Some days, we all would prefer to lounge on the couch. But take the initiative—get dressed, plan a bike ride, hike in the rain, learn to ski together, try indoor rock climbing, or jump on the trampoline. I assure you, it will be enjoyable and create lasting family memories.”

Make family fitness exciting by creating an activity jar filled with quick weeknight options (like a neighborhood walk) and a jar with weekend excursion ideas (like horseback riding). Take turns choosing from these jars each day so kids feel included in the decision-making while parents maintain control over the schedule.

Don’t just remain inactive while your kids exercise—fitness is a family affair! From spontaneous games of tag in the yard to a day of geocaching or attending karate classes multiple times a week, exercising together enables families to share both energy and meaningful time.