Bright Ideas from Our Readers: Family Fitness
Thanks to our many readers who submitted their ideas for easy fitness activities that families can do together. Here are a few of their suggestions.
Bike ride together
Many readers told us they take bike rides with their children, either to an
exciting destination like the local pancake house, or just around the neighborhood as a stress-reliever:
A California mom of a 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son writes: "We love to take bike rides after school/work, which relieves tension from either a stressful day at work or being cooped up in the classroom. It gives us the exercise we need plus we always have extra things to talk about during dinner."
A mother of two sons, ages 8 and 12, writes: "On weekends we like to bike to our favorite morning breakfast restaurant (IHOP). Even in our suburban area that borders on urban, there's a lot to see and we get to talk a little while the pancakes are quite the incentive."
Another family in Colorado participates in competitive BMX bike racing: "My husband and I recently got our 8 year old son into BMX racing. It is not only a great physical activity but it teaches him great social skills, as well as good sportsmanship. He is really excited about racing. My husband and I are also racing. My husband is one of the coaches for his team. BMX racing is a great activity for the whole family. It definitely is a great workout as well as a lot of fun."
Take a walk
A family walk is a simple activity that accomplishes two goals: keeping fit and making time to communicate. Here's what one New York mom had to say: "I am a single mother of two (an 11-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl) who lives in upstate New York. We go for an after-dinner walk every evening; this activity not only helps us in keeping fit, but it also provides some quality time during which we can talk without the distractions of the television or phone."
Run a race
A Florida mom suggests finding local 5K races to enter together: "Sometimes the early race times are an issue with cranky kids, but we've discovered that inviting a friend to run will also alleviate some of the whining. Many 5K's are for charities, which teaches the kids to try to help their community, ¬and there are usually activities and food sponsors that make for an interesting time after the run is over.
