The COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools, gyms, and even playgrounds, making it harder for parents to ensure that their children are spending enough time exercising. But it’s time for parents and their children to embrace opportunities and get more physical activity in their daily routines. No matter what your child’s abilities are, these resources will help you find ways to get everyone in on the action!
Family Fun Together
There are plenty of activities that will get your whole family moving, and they’re fun for kids and adults alike!
- Doing Yoga together as a family will allow everyone to release their stress and truly relax.
- You don’t have to head to a recreation center for fitness instruction – try some of these exercises for all ages instead!
Exercise at Home
If COVID-19 is still spreading in your area, you may want to stick with exercising indoors for now. These tips will help your family enjoy physical activity without going outside.
- To develop a fitness plan for a child with special needs, work with an exercise physiologist for personalized recommendations.
- Young children will love challenging themselves with an indoor obstacle course – why not create one? You could include hoops, a limbo challenge, jumping hoops.
- How about some mountain climbers using paper plates?
Enjoying the Fresh Air
Do you feel safe spending time with your family outside? Here’s how to make the most of your outdoor excursions!
- Try basic exercises like burpees and squat jumps in the garden with your kids!
- Take your family for a local hike in a local park or wilderness area; make sure to pack a few masks, just in case you bump into a crowd.
- How about painting some pebbles and leaving them on a trail for other families to spot?
Teaching Healthy Habits
Want your kids to feel confident, strong, and capable? Work with them to develop healthy habits as a family.
- Encourage your children to drink more water by infusing it with fruit to add flavour without upping their sugar consumption.
- A home free of clutter can help prevent arguing and excessive criticising among family members.
- Choose healthy snacks for your kids that will fuel their workouts, like avocados, nuts, and sweet potato fries.
- Establish a predictable morning routine so that your whole family starts the day off right!
- If you have older kids, why not spend a few minutes every Sunday evening planning some exercise time for the week ahead?
It has been difficult for families to adjust to isolation, and this is especially true for parents and children. But with a little creativity, you can find both indoor and outdoor activities that will get your kids to fall in love with fitness all over again!
Physical activity is great for the body and mind – hope you are able to find some time for this in your day.
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