by: SHERIDAN WATKINS
A family that plays together, stays together! Exercising can be fun when you aren’t doing it alone, so grab your family and discover ways you can bond and promote a healthy lifestyle at the same time.
Outdoor Adventures
Family Bike Rides: Whether the family wants to explore local parks or bike through the neighborhood, cycling is a great way to breathe fresh air and get a workout in. Pack a picnic basket and take a break halfway through to make a day of it!
Take a Hike: You can go at a slower pace that’s still challenging by taking a family hike. This is excellent for everyone who loves to soak in the beauty of nature. Choose trails that suit everyone’s fitness levels and bring plenty of water and snacks. Load your hike with engaging activities like a scavenger hunt to spot the most birds or “I Spy” to discover beautiful sights that may be overlooked.
Backyard Sports & Activities: Transform your backyard into a mini sports arena. Kickball, badminton and volleyball are a few ideas that are easy and inexpensive to set up. You can also bring in some water activities on a hot day. Some of my favorites are water balloon tosses, relay races with a slip-and-slide and water limbo with a hose. These games are great exercises and encourage family competition and bragging rights.
Indoor Activities
Dance Battles: Dancing is always fun and releasing, so crank it up a notch by having a dance battle. Everyone can take turns being a judge or assigning a dance genre. Create a playlist and get your heart pumping!
Yoga Sessions: Slow down the tempo and bring in Zen with family yoga. There are plenty of online classes and apps that offer sessions for all ages and levels. Yoga helps improve flexibility, strength and relaxation and is perfect for winding down after a busy or exciting day.
Interactive Video Games: Don’t forget about these classic ways to have fun and exercise indoors. If your family loves video games, try out Just Dance or Wii Sports. These games are designed to get you moving and, before you know it, you’ll be playing for hours.
Benefits of Staying Active Together
Staying active as a family improves physical and mental health, reduces stress and sets a positive example for kids, teaching them the importance of a healthy lifestyle. But, most importantly, it strengthens family bonds. When you’re laughing, playing and working towards fitness goals together, you’re building connections that last a lifetime.
Make fitness a family affair with these fun activities mentioned today. You’ll stay active, healthy, happy and create precious memories!
Sheridan’s immediate family includes her hubby, Devin, and their dog, Rocky. Although they don’t have children yet, it’s still important for them to establish traditions and values as they lay their foundation for an impactful, evolving family. Sheridan also loves spending time with her relatives and her friends, who are her extended chosen family.
