The benefits of regular exercise are endless, from improved mood to increased energy to sharper memory to better heart health to stress relief. With the busy lives we all lead these days, it’s hard enough to find the time to exercise by ourselves, let alone as a family. But, if you’re looking for ways to get your whole family together and moving this summer and beyond, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are five fun and easy ways you can start exercising together as a family.
1. After dinner (and after all the dishes have been washed, of course), grab the honey and the kids and go for a 30-minute walk or bike ride around the neighborhood.
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2. On Friday and Saturday nights, let loose with a little dancing. Throw on a few of your favorite tunes and dance the night (and those calories) away. Also, be sure to sneak in a couple slow jams when the kids go to bed. Or even if you don't go out dancing, have a "dance-off" at home by playing your favorite tunes and letting the old go against the young -- it's so much fun!
3. Watching your favorite movie or television show together as a family? That’s great since most families...... no longer do that, but you can make it even better by sneaking in a few jumping jacks, squats and sit-ups in between commercials. Make it a friendly competition by seeing who can get the most jumping jacks in before the movie or TV show returns.
4. When the adults are busy doing chores around the house or yard work, encourage the kids to jump in. While they don’t have to do anything too rigorous, they can help with sweeping the kitchen floor after dinner, raking the leaves in the fall, shoveling the show on the porch in the winter, and watering the plants and grass during the spring and summer months.
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5. Have your kids been begging you for a dog for the longest time and your answer is always no? This may change your mind: According to a study published earlier this year by Michigan State University, dog owners had more active lives than non-dog owners. Makes sense, right? A family walk with the dog is good for everyone.
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