If you're looking for fun, creative ways to stay active as a family on rainy Spring days, take a look at these simple ideas to get moving indoors. From classic activities like bowling and roller-skating to more silly, out-of-the-box options, we're highlighting a variety of exercise ideas for you and your kids. Don't let the clouds keep your family from engaging in healthy habits!
There are plenty of fun, family-friendly activities you can do indoors, so chilly Winter weather doesn't have to leave you sluggish. Sports, games, silly projects — we're highlighting a variety of heart-pumping options to keep your kids moving throughout the season. Steer clear of cabin fever with these active pastimes for kids of all ages!
Source: Flickr users Curtis Fry, Steven Depolo, Acid Pix, and David K
Kids spend a lot of time sitting in front of screens, so it's important to make sure that they get enough exercise throughout the day. Tiny tweaks to your family routine can have a huge impact on your children's activity level, so try to step back and reassess your habits to get your kids moving. Check out these 10 ways to amp up your kids' exercise patterns and share your own fitness suggestions in the comments below!
Holy cuteness! Now I love Matt Damon even more for showing his loved ones how important it is to stay active by heading out for a family bike ride in Vancouver. When you get moving together, not only do your children learn that exercise in an important part of life, but it also encourages the grown-ups to fit exercise into their busy schedules.
Aside from renting bikes and touring around a new place, there are so many other ways you and your family can get out together and burn some calories.
Keep reading for more fun family fitness ideas.
I love gardening! It's a great way to spend quality time in the great outdoors and to play in the dirt, plus you can burn some serious calories. Gardening solo can be quite meditative, but getting the entire family involved in yard work is not only more fun, but it's way more productive— my girls love weeding and relocating the worms they find in the process.
Here are a few similarities I see in gardening and gym time:
Vigorous gardening for an hour burns about 300 calories (depending on your weight and how intensely you dig).
Do you garden? Tell me what you're planting. I just put in two raspberry bushes and am hoping for some sweet berries in Autumn.
If you're like me and always looking for new ways to get active this Spring, think about doing it as a family. Getting moving this Spring does not mean more time in the gym, in fact, it's quite the opposite. Children are like sponges and if they see you valuing TV time over times when you're physically active, they could adopt the same values. So here's a few ideas for getting the whole family moving:
What ways do you find to get active with your family? I know I am always looking for suggestions, so I'd love to hear yours.
It's great when you can get your kids involved in Winter exercise, but let's face it — they won't have the energy to go out for a long excursion. If that's the case, or if they're just too young to wear skis or snowshoes, you can tow them along behind you.
Check out the Chariot XC Skiing Child Transport System (CTS) Kit ($210). It's a set of Rossignol skis with two adjustable aluminum tow bars and a waistbelt for you to wear. Simply attach this kit to either a Cheetah ($399) or a Cougar ($530) Chariot stroller. Then you can cross-country ski or snowshoe and pull up to two children behind. You'll feel good knowing they're safe, warm, and protected from wind and snow. Plus since you're pulling the extra weight, you'll get even more of a workout. Too bad they're so expensive, but still such a great way to get out in the snow.
