Its still good exercise, but feels more like play.
She shared some of her favorite kids activities with us.
Roll a pair of dice and race each other to complete the exercise.
Or, draw exercises from adeck of cards.
They dont have to be playing cards, eitherAllans kids work out with a pile of superhero trading cards.
Create an obstacle course.That is, have thekidscreate an obstacle course.
you could time the kids as they run through.
Its a fun competition but the kids are taking ownership of it, she says.
Then everybody has to go back and put them on again.
First team done wins!
Relays can also involve carrying water or tennis balls from bucket to bucket.
For younger kids, keep the exercises simple so they dont get frustrated.
Work Out While They Run and Play
You probably want to getyourworkout in, too.
Once the kids get bored of structured exercises and want to run and play, thats your chance.
For little kids that need to stay within arms reach, do your workout at home.
Cosmic Kids Yogais a great example.
The best kind, in my opinion: dance parties.
Upbeat kids music is great for dancing, no matter what your age.
TryThe Laurie Berkner BandandThe Wigglesfor starters.
Or if this is more about their running, consider it a brisk walk for yourself.
If you have access to a track, though, you have more options.
My kids had a hard time grasping the concept of jogging; all they could do was sprint.
So I showed them one of my favorite interval workouts: sprint the straightaways and walk the curves.
After the run, of course, you might let them play.
The first time I brought my kid, he made a beeline for the sand, despite my objections.
And I remembered how I did the same thing when I was a kid.
Be Flexible
Expect a little of the unexpected.
In some cases, you may need to cut your workout short.
For example, my toddler always wanted to pick up my dumbbells.
So I got him a pair of tiny ones of his own.
Did he want to do a mini workout alongside me?
He found the big weights fascinating, and he didnt like the tiny ones any better than I did.
So I did single dumbbell exercises, and he did what I can only describe as toddler deadlifts.
Some kids will be motivated to try a sport or activity just because Mom or Dad does it.
If that applies, give them a gentle introduction to running or cycling or soccer or whatever you love.
Whatever works for your family, keep doing it!
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
Photos byCarbonNYC,Fort Meade,Unsplash.
