Loving to Move: Put Play in Your Day (part 4)

Family Play Time!

When we schedule our family time for the week we always try to schedule Family Play Time. This is one of my favorite activities that we do together. We get outside and play, yes we schedule time to play together as a family.

Since we all enjoy moving and "exercising" the first 15 minutes of play time is "workout" time. The boys usually end up participating and mimicking what we are doing but we never require them to participate in the workout. This is the only way Alex and I are able to workout together. And even if we are not truly alone we make it quality time together by supporting, encouraging and pushing each other.

Be creative with your location! Play time can be in anywhere: your yard, at the park, the big field across the street or in an empty part of a parking lot.

After we have caught our breath from the workout the boys are ready to play. The four of us love to play tag, do obstacle courses on the park equipment, go for walks, play football, soccer and basketball.

Getting the kids to move everyday is a priority in our family. Lack of movement in our country has become epidemic. Childhood obesity, diabetes and disease is increasing and this generation of children are not projected to out live their parents. More movement is one piece to creating a healthier children and families.

When working with overweight and obese children I do not put them on a treadmill for an hour and then a bike for another hour. Kids don't need that and most will not enjoy that. They need to play. And we need to stop teaching/showing them that exercise is hard, painful and not that important. Kids can get a great cardio and resistance workout on the play ground by running, jumping, pulling, swinging and laughing.

Want to take a big step in making your family healthier? Schedule Family Play Time. Make it a priority and schedule it. Have fun. Move. Laugh.

Movement is fun and natural. By making movement fun and a regular part of your day you can create lasting habits in your children. See below for an example of our family play time.

Workout in the field or on the basketball court at the park

15 jumping jacks

15 squats

15 push-ups

15 sit ups

10 burpies

walking lunges up and down the basketball court

Repeat. 5 times

Play football as a family!