How can families stay active during the school year? Read fitness coach Denise Locsin’s tips for Incorporating Physical Activity into Your Family Routine.
We’re all busy this time of year. That’s a fact. As a mother of 4 active children, I know that the end of summer and back-to-school time means families have no time. The days become endless, rushing around to finish summer reading, to get to soccer practice, get to theater rehearsal. Do you have your instrument? Your homework? Don’t forget your lunch!
It becomes an ongoing struggle to make sure that everything is in place and as it should be, and our down time is spent reminiscing about the lazy summer days we just left behind. With this chaos that ensues during this time of year, it’s no wonder that fitness seems to get placed on the back burner.
My husband and I are both fitness coaches and even WE have difficulty incorporating physical activity into our family routine. This is a problem that all families struggle with. How do we find time to stay active? Here are some tips that I have found work best for me and my family.
Tips for Incorporating Physical Activity into Your Family Routine
1.) Take Advantage of Having a Routine
The one good thing about the end of summer is that it brings about a schedule. There are specific times when everything must get done and this tends to stay generally consistent from one week to the next. It’s by knowing my family’s schedule that I can figure out the best times that everyone is free. I consider which activities are the best fit for that time of day and how long we have during that time to all do something together.
2.) Plan in Advance
I have found this to be a critical component of successfully carrying out family activities. Tell the kids that you’re putting this time aside for family fun time. This will help prevent conflicts from interfering with what little sacred free time the whole family shares. If you make a commitment to exercise with your kids, you’re more likely going to stick to it.
3.) Learn from Your Kids
I find it helpful to ask my kids what they learned that day pertaining to exercise, whether it’s from gym or sports practice. This technique helps the kids feel more involved than if you were just giving them activities to perform. Kids feel like they have more say and this gives you the opportunity to potentially get to learn a new form of exercise.
4.) Don’t be Afraid of the Great Outdoors
Despite that the weather gets chillier come fall, I don’t let this stop me from encouraging the whole family to get outside and take walks together. Stepping outside and getting fresh air can be a great way to embrace family bonding as well as implement exercise in your children’s lives.
5.) Integrate Various Activities into your Child’s Day
Children are known to have low attention spans. I use a wide variety of exercises in my schedule to help my kids stay engaged in daily activities.
These tips allow for everyone to get involved in family activities. Following these simple steps will not only get your family to be more active and energized but will also bring you closer to the ones you love the most.
By Denise Locsin, Fitness coach and creator of Yokebar
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