Over 18% of America’s children under the age of 19 fall into the category of obese. Sitting at just under a fifth of the younger population, it’s easy to see that something is wrong with a number like this, and the impact on the future of the World could be incredibly dramatic. Of course, this isn’t something which you can solve by yourself. In fact, in reality, the most you’ll be able to change is that way that your family lives. To help you to keep your kids out of this statistic, this post will be exploring family fitness, and how you can make this crucial part of life into your next New Year’s resolution.
Why Family Fitness?
To begin, it’s a good idea to think about why you might want to take on this sort of challenge as a family. Of course, regardless of how old you are, fitness is important to everyone. This means that you’ll benefit from this just as much as the little ones, giving you the chance to improve your strength, stamina, and personal body image, all while spending time together as a family. Along with this, the habits which your children pick up in their early life will be largely based around how you live your life. This means that parents who don’t spend enough time on their fitness could pass this sort of mentality onto their kids.
Outdoor Activities
Most kids will do best in the field of fitness when they have no idea that they’re getting fit, instead relying on giving them things to do which they will enjoy to keep them in shape. There are loads of options which fall into this category, and you need only find one which works for your kids before you can start moving in the right direction, making it well worth trying out as many options as you can to find something which they like. Below, you can find some examples of outdoor activities which will improve your family fitness while also being fun for the kids.
- Hiking: Walking is by far one of the best exercises a child can do. It burns plenty of calories, while also avoiding unnecessary strain on their growing knee and hip joints which would be found with running. Of course, though, along with this, going on a long hike can give you the chance to see a big chunk of nature. When they are still learning about the basics of the world, having the chance to spend some time in the wilderness can be very good for a child.
- Cycling: Much like walking, using a bicycle doesn’t cause any damage to the joints in your body, making it a great option for kids and adults alike. Having never driven a motor vehicle, the speeds which can be reached on most bikes will be very exciting for your little ones, making them feel as if they are hurtling down the roads they use. When you do this a family, though, it should be nice and safe. In some cases, this sort of activity can be great for giving your child the foundations of proper road use.
- Sports: Competitive games have long been a big part of human society, with the earliest of civilisations taking part in matches with rules and tactics. By kindling a love for a sport in your child, you can make their fitness handle itself, as they will struggle to train each week if they aren’t in the right shape. This gives you the chance to teach your kids, showing them how to play the games they might get involved with. Along with this, though, it will also make it possible to support your child and give them motivation.
- Climbing: There are few workouts which will push your body further than climbing. When you take on an activity like this, you will have to rely on your upper, lower, and core strength at different times. Not only does this create a pattern which shocks your muscles, but it also ensures that you’re not missing an essential part of your body. Kids will find climbing fun, even if they struggle with it, and this makes it a great route to try when you want to get everyone fitter.
At The Gym
There are plenty of reasons why outdoor activities may not work so well for your family. Whether you live in a city or the weather is too extreme to be outside, it can be frustrating when you’re not able to take everyone out for their routine workouts. To overcome this, gyms can be a great substitute for the natural world, offering the chance to have a great workout without having to step foot outside. In the past, though, places like this weren’t exactly designed for kids, presenting some issues for families which want to get fit together.
With all of this in mind, you should stand a much better chance of keeping your children from the clutches of obesity. Of course, though, along with this, you also need to think about yourself. When life is busy and you have a lot on your plate, it can be very easy to let things like fitness fall into the list of things to do tomorrow. Once you get into this pattern, it will be very hard to get out, making it worth looking for ways to change this aspect of your life.
