For outings:
- Load the kids and their bikes or scooters into the car and drive to the track at your local high school when it’s empty. Let the kids ride their trikes or bikes around the track, while you walk or jog.
- Online “Baby & Me” yoga classes will help you keep good form while you get your stretch on.
- Listen to your favorite podcasts while you walk briskly with your little one in a carrier or stroller.
- Take family pride in how far you can park from your destination and walk. (“Is this a two block day? Let’s go for it!”).
- Let your exercise time double as social time by walking with a friend and her child; the kids will entertain each other.
- Chasing your toddler all over the park? Instead of resenting it, get a pedometer, and work up to 10,000 steps a day.
- If your child is old enough, bike or roller blade together. One dad I know took up skate boarding with his 11-year-old. Great for his body, great for their relationship as his son headed into the teen years.
- Want to get an older child or teen moving? Do a charity run together.
When you’re working:
- Work standing whenever possible.
- Walk around while you’re on the phone. Use a pedometer and keep trying to increase your daily steps.
You won’t believe how much ten minutes of movement daily will lift your mood. And when we feel good, it has an almost magical effect on our children. We have a lighter touch and a sense of humour. We don’t get triggered as easily. All of which makes our kids happier and more cooperative. So think of this as “we” time – bonding time with your family that gives you huge collateral benefits.
You’re also getting your child hooked on an active lifestyle, which is a great counter-balance to all that screen-time in our lives. Kids who are physically active into the preteen and teen years are 75% less likely to feel they aren’t fit as adults.
If you do this every single day, you’ll all start looking forward to it. Way to nurture yourself and your child at the same time!
Originally published here.
Dr. Laura Markham is the founder of PeacefulParentHappyKids.com and author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids, Peaceful Parent, Happy Siblings and her latest book, the Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids Workbook.
