In Your Corner: Family Fitness at Home This Summer
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By: Meredith Rosson, Cooper Fitness Center - Dallas Youth Programs Director
With the evolving kid-friendly world of technology it is a constant battle for many parents to get their kids to stay active without the use of technology. As parents, you can remember a time when the word "play" meant riding bikes with your friends or playing a pick up game of basketball. Today, "play" has taken on a whole new meaning for our children. To them, it means video games, cartoons, or computer games. But they aren't moving—they are just being entertained!
Below are several ideas to get your entire family fit...together. To begin, I always recommend to parents that they think about what activities their kids enjoy participating in and what areas they seem to show some promise in. It's handy to have a list of these activities ready to pull out of your back pocket when you're trying a new activity and it's not going over well. This way your kids only feel encouraged, not discouraged, and the exercise will be a positive experience for all involved.
The family who plays together stays fit together! Make these ideas more about playing together, rather than working out together. If your children pick up that you find exercise to be a chore, they too may be more apt to adopt this belief. Also, if you have some concerns about your child's weight or habits, it is important to not make this time about that concern or make it seem like they have a problem you are trying to fix. This will only cause resistance from the child and could lead to self image problems down the road. You want to make sure the emphasis of playing is encouraged to ALL members of the family, not just one.
“Play Points” are a great way to encourage children to be active. Make a list of games and activities with your family. Each activity is worth a certain number of points. When your children do the activity, award them with “play points.” At the end of the summer they can trade in their points for prizes. I never recommend using food as a prize. Food is fuel, not a reward. A good example of a “play prize” is a new pair of roller blades or tickets to a baseball game.
No home gym. Who cares? You can easily turn your home into a rainy day gym by setting up a circuit routine with household items. Jog up and down the stairs five to six times in an allotted amount of time. Go to the kitchen and do 20 bicep curls with bottles of water. Lie on the floor, put your feet on the couch, and do 15 crunches. Jump rope on the porch for one minute. Repeat the circuit and turn up some music to make it even more enjoyable. Half the fun is finding household items to use in your circuit training and to get your heart-rate up.
The summer can be a restless time for kids staying at home. We offer another great option for parents who want their kids be active, learn a new sport, or just have fun with friends—Cooper Fitness Center's Summer Fit and Fun Camps. For details and to register, visit CooperYouth.com.
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