7 Family Friendly Fitness Activities

Do you love going training but need some fitness ideas that can involve the entire family? Well, unshackle yourself from the notion that fitness is limited to a gym workout because there’s a world of recreational ideas that can include your little ones in a fun way that’ll leave you all wanting more.

1. Swim yourselves fitter

Exercising in the pool is one of the most beneficial ways to get a workout. Swimming burns a massive amount of calories, increases cardiovascular fitness and endurance, and is safe on our joints. But even more importantly, kids love the water. Find an indoor pool so you can engage in this family-friendly fitness activity all year round.

2. Take it outside

Utilising your local park is a sure way to include the whole family in fitness. Let the children run around the playground and either get your cardio in by running behind them or do plyometric exercises using playground equipment, benches and your bodyweight. A paper by the National Wildlife Federation found that outdoor play improves kids’ physical fitness and their mental well-being, which helped them focus on their schoolwork.

3. Exercise your pet together

Typically, walking the family pet is a job for one, or can even be considered a chore, but this activity is a sure way for the entire family to get moving. Grab the leash, gather the family and enjoy a stroll. Your family will benefit and your pooch will thank you. What’s more, research in the journal Circulation found that people who owned a pet were less likely to have cardiac problems.

4. Overcome obstacles

Set up a fun obstacle course by including things like skips, frog jumps, ladders, jump rope or jumping jacks at a nearby athletics track. Invite your kids and their friends to join you in a few circuits of your course for a fun and effective workout.

5. Host a dance part

While you may not be the best dancer, this is a fun way to burn calories and involve the youngsters because the worse you dance, the more they like it. Close the blinds, turn up your kid’s favourite songs and get moving. It’s worth it even if they do regular organised lessons: a study at the University of California, US, found that up to a third of kid specific dance classes are spent inactive. Researchers found that hip-hop and jazz-style ones were the most active, while ballet and flamenco were the least dynamic, so make your choice count.

6. Skate your way to leanness

Strap on your skates and head to your local rink, or just to a quiet street. Roller skating is an adventurous way to engage the whole family. If skates aren’t your thing, pick up a bike or skateboard and get moving.

7. Get climbing

Rock climbing is another activity that can involve both adults and children. Schedule classes at your local facility for a fun and challenging full-body workout that’ll see you both laughing at your falls. Research in Sports Medicine found that rock climbing offers an intense physiological and psychological workout that challenges both strength and endurance. Think of it as great way to bring about an early bedtime.

Involving the whole family in fitness can not only create a fun and bonding experience, it can also improve the health of the all your loved ones. Slap this list of fitness-related recreational activities on your fridge for the next time you need an idea for how to involve everyone in fitness. You’ll soon be a fitter, stronger family with more stories to tell.

Find fitness advice and more in every issue of tRAIN for HER magazine.