As if giggles and smiles aren’t enough of a reason to get active with your family, Saturday, September 27, 2014, is Family Health & Fitness Day. This national health and fitness event promotes family involvement in physical activity, one of the goals of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health.
Look to your local health clubs, schools, park districts, hospitals, YMCAs/YWCAs, malls and other community locations for organized family-related health and fitness events to celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day. If you can’t make it to an event, here are some easy, inexpensive and fun suggestions to have your own Family Health & Fitness Day at home:
- Build a Fort and Go Exploring – Kids love the unexpected. Building a fort with chairs, blankets and other items found throughout the house not only exercises their brains, but also exercises their muscles, especially when you use that fort for an exciting twist on hide and seek.
- Nature Hike – You don’t need to go to a local park in order to explore nature. Instead, head out to your backyard or take a walk through the neighborhood and look at the trees, the flowers, the bugs, the rocks, etc. Kids will enjoy the time spent with you as they learn about the nature that surrounds them.
- Family Team Sport – Kids delight in seeing their parents play their favorite sport with them. This can be anything from football to soccer, baseball to track. Set up a simple “field” in the backyard or inside and play away. It doesn’t have to be fancy, you don’t even have to own the correct equipment. The most important thing is that you’re active and with your kids. What a great way to ‘role-model’ the belief that exercise is fun!
- Family Olympics – I think this is one of my favorites. Anything slightly competitive gets my family going and you can set this up to where each family member has an event they’re sure to win. You can have a gymnastics competition, hopping on one foot contest, crab walking race, etc. Give yourself bonus points for any sort of awards ceremony complete with “trophies” (decorated cups, anyone?)!
These are just a few suggestions for your Family Health & Fitness Day, but the possibilities are endless. The most important thing is that you’re with your family and moving. Remember, it’s never too late to create life-long habits for your little ones. Creating a love of movement helps your kids live their healthiest life possible.
Today we feature OWG guest blogger and childhood obesity consultant, Melodie Griffin. Melodie’s passion lies in the prevention of childhood obesity through the school and early learning settings. All programs Melodie promotes are fully approved by her home based lab rats, five year old son, Howie, and two year old daughter, Hope. You can connect with Melodie on her Facebook page, WellConnect LLC.
