Spring has definitely sprung which means it must be time for...baseball! So why not play a modified version of it in your backyard! Get your wiffle ball, bat, mitts, and bases out and get moving with your kids! Name your teams, coordinate your shirts, and start pitching! Remember, ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS!
Turn off the tv and turn on the music -- whatever kind of music that gets you moving. The children may be a little hesitant at first but they will be laughing and moving with you in no time at all. Start out with something a little slow and then really turn it up. Use iTunes to create a playlist and make it a weekly family night. Need a few new moves? Watching 'So You Think You Can Dance' always helps here! It premiers in a few short weeks on Fox. What a great way to connect with your family and get moving with your children. Enjoy and dance the night away!
There is nothing like a good old fashioned walk to get moving and spend some quality time with your family. A wonderful time to head out is after dinner while it is still light. Make sure everyone is wearing appropriate foot wear and has a bottle of water! Get your body moving and enjoy nature, regardless of where you live. Listen for the sounds of birds and other animals, breathe in the aromas of your area, look for different leaves, interesting rocks, beautiful flowers, and animal tracks if you are on a trail. Talk about your day, your hopes, your dreams. Connect with the world around you and with your family. It is a wonderful way to wind down your day. Collect some items from your walk and make a collage or a shadow box. Just get out there and get moving!
What to do on a rainy day? Can't really play outside (well, yes you can but...) so blow up a balloon and play balloon tennis. All you need is a space to play, a blown-up balloon, and a line to make the "net" -- that's it! Flip a coin to see who will be the server (the person to start the balloon in motion). Once you determine the server, throw the balloon up and hit it over the net to the other person. See how many times you can bat it back and forth. See how high you can hit it, then how low. Set a timer and see how long you can volley (volley means hit the balloon back and forth without it touching the floor). See if you can spin around and then hit the balloon back. There are plenty of 'tricks' to try.
For the more competitive, keep score. The first person to 10 or 12 wins. You score a point if the other person fails to hit the balloon before it drops to the floor or if the other person fails to get it over the 'net'. Just make sure to have fun and MOVE AROUND! Now grab your kids and get moving!!
Break out your hula hoops! It doesn't matter the weather, you can do it indoors or out! Hula hooping is a fun way to get moving. Shake those hips, rock your arms, swing your neck, wherever you decide to hoop the hula you will be moving and laughing with your kids! It's not just for girls, boys will take on the challenge as well. Get out a timer and see if you can hula hoop for 1 minute or 2? Line everyone up and see who can hula hoop the longest. Can you do it on your knees? Play some music and see how fast you can hula hoop! Just get a hula hoop, your children, and get moving!
Are you a slave to your Blackberry or iPhone? Do you have a list of things to do or some type of schedule you keep? Then be sure to schedule "30 minutes of quality active time with children"! We ALL need time for ourselves but our children need their closest and best bosses too, YOU!
If the day seems to slip away and you haven't been active and spent some quality time with them than you need to schedule it in with all of your other duties. Trust me, you will be glad you did and more importantly so will your children. It doesn't have to be high impact, crazy fitness stuff just something fun with movement. When was the last time you played hopscotch. It's a cinch right? Try it, you might be surprised. Get to the park, if weather permits, and do the monkey bars. Or better yet, make an obstacle course out of the playground equipment and race. What kid doesn't love to race their parents? Make it even more interesting with the winner having to take the garbage out for a whole week!
Whatever it is you choose to do: ride your bikes, walk the dog, who can do 50 jumping jacks the fastest just schedule it in and be sure when the alarm goes off that you grab your children and get moving! You might even laugh!
Are you getting ready for the Easter Bunny? There is nothing children like more than an entire basket filled with treats! Who doesn't? But why not get them moving BEFORE they dive in!
Make an treaure hunt out of finding their baskets. Use the back of an inexpensive puzzle that they first need to put together to create the map. Then give them clues to where their treats are hidden. Make the clues far apart and your kids will be running from one to the other. The more clues the more movement!
Or how about an egg hunt challenge! Make them hop on one foot from egg to egg. The hunt will last longer and there will be a lot of laughs along the way too! Don't forget to have the video camera rolling!
Grab your sneakers and hit the ground running! The easiest way to get moving is to run. All you need is a pair of sneakers and you're off! You don't have to run fast, you just need to get moving! You're children will love it especially if you challenge them. Challenge them to see who can get to the fire hydrant first, the next tree, whatever! And who knows, you might just inspire the next great Olympic Runner!
Have an infant? Grab a jogging stroller and take them too. Don't worry if you have multiples, you can still do it! And it's a great opportunity to get outdoors and stimulate your infant(s) with the sights and sounds of spring! What ever you choose, get moving!
Jillian Michaels hasn't won more seasons of the Biggest Loser than not by accident. The woman knows how to get results! Have 20 minutes and $15.00? Grab your kids and a copy of her DVD '30 Day Shred' for $15.00 ($8.99 on Amazon.com) and get moving!
My two year-old LOVES to do the jumping jacks, my 6 year-old LOVES the plank jacks, my 7 year-old LOVES the oblique twists, and I LOVE the way I look 30 days later (no kidding - you will notice a difference in just weeks). There is something for everyone I promise and even if you can't do it all you will get moving and spend some quality time with your children! Twenty minutes isn't too much to ask and your body and your children will thank you! Now get some water and get moving!!
Everyone can carve out 15 minutes in their day to spend some quality time with their children. Why not slay two birds with one stone and read while being active! How? With Eric Carle's book From Head to Toe. It's reading and movement combined! Can you arch your back like a cat? Bend your knees like a camel? No matter the age (mine are 2, 6, and 7) they will enjoy moving to this book! Now get reading and get active!
I am an active Mom of three promoting health and fitness while spending quality time with my children and inspiring them to do the same. Up for the challenge? Let's do it together!
.jpg)
.JPG)
