When it comes to staying healthy and living an active lifestyle, families are in it together. From morning jogs to afternoon workouts, there are lots of fun fitness activities that both moms and kids can enjoy as a family. From kickboxing to obstacle courses, here are some of the best mom and kids exercises that are sure to get everyone moving.
1. Get Moving as a Family: Fun Fitness with Mom & Kids
Families with young children are always looking for new and exciting activities to help promote physical activity. Why not use that time as an opportunity to bond and have fun with the entire family? Exercise can be a great way to not only bond as a family but also improve overall health.
Try one of these activities together as a family:
- Go on a nature walk and keep an eye out for different animals, plants, and other interesting findings.
- Head to your local playground and take turns pushing each other on the swings.
- Pick a family-themed dance (for example, see who can do the Chicken Dance the best!) and practice the moves at home.
- Head to your nearest beach and play a game of catch.
There are lots of great ways to incorporate physical activity into your day as a family. Don’t forget to keep it fun and focus on quality time together.
2. Bond Through Movement: Reinforce Family Ties
Family time is so important for strengthening those bonds. What better way to make a connection than to bond through movement and exercise? Besides being an excellent way to stay healthy and invigorate us with energy, physical activity brings people together, provides family fun, and creates a positive atmosphere.
It doesn’t have to be a run up the nearest hill! Make the physical activity a family affair. Invite the loved ones to join for a short run, a relaxed walk in the park, or even a bike ride close to home. The focus should be on physical activity that brings the family closer in a fun, undemanding environment. We recommend the following activities to bond through movement:
- A game of soccer
- A family tennis match
- Yoga with everyone
- Garden garden work
Learning to work together as a unit, encouraging each other and having fun while pushing themselves can lead to better family ties.
3. Create Healthy Habits: Kids Learning From Mom
The relationship between a mother and her children is one of the most powerful and influential a child will ever experience. By teaching healthy habits, children learn the importance of self-care, the value of healthy nutrition, and how to manage their time. Mothers are often the primary provider of caregivers and role models for healthy lifestyle habits.
Developing healthy habits should begin at a young age. For example, encouraging children to brush and floss their teeth after meals, helping them learn daily hygiene routines, and teaching them to recognize when they need a healthy snack and when they need to take a break. Establish activities such as taking walks, visiting the park or a local library, or doing a family puzzle as ways to pass the time together.
- Set a regular bedtime
- Encourage in-person conversations rather than screen time
- Exercising as a family twice a week
- Limiting sugary foods and drinks
- Cooking and sharing a healthy meal together once week
These practices will help maximize the time a mother can spend with her children, helping them build healthy habits that last a lifetime.
4. Celebrate the Benefits: Lasting Family Memories Through Fitness
Fitness activities can do much more than help you reach your physical goals. It can create a unique bond between family members as they explore the joy of working out together. Here are a few reasons why celebrating the benefits of physical fitness as a family can help create lasting memories:
- Sense of Accomplishment: Working out as a family gives every member a sense of accomplishment that will be cherished for a long time to come. Seeing how far everyone can progress together while having fun in the process is a powerful source of motivation for growth.
- Challenge Every Member: It’s no secret that physical activity can be quite strenuous at times, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Working out as a team requires challenging and pushing each other in different ways, helping to build strength and quick decision making skills.
- Take Family Time to the Next Level: Working out together is an excellent way for family members to catch up and talk while also getting in some quality exercise and improving their overall health. Taking family time to the next level helps to create meaningful, lasting memories.
Because of all these benefits, it’s no wonder why celebrating the family’s fitness progress makes for a great bonding moment. All that shared sweat can be the perfect cure for putting your bond to the test. Every family’s fitness journey is unique, and just like any other challenge, it often pays off in meaningful ways.
Engaging in physical activities as a family is a fun and rewarding way to stay healthy. Why not turn on your favorite tunes and get moving? You never know, you may find an unexpected passion or bond with your entire family that you never knew existed. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start having some family-fun fitness today!
