Fitness with your kids
By our Gym+Fitness Team at PCYC Beenleigh
Staying fit to keep up with our children is something we all must do. But what if you can keep fit alongside your kids? You’re getting in exercise; they’re burning all that energy and potentially need an early night. A win-win!
Physical activity improves overall physical fitness. By being active, your little ones develop cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance, all while promoting agility and developing balance. Using the large muscles of the arms, legs, and body by crawling, running, and jumping, children hone ‘whole body movement’ skills which develop gross motor skills in a way like no other. The best thing we can do as parents is to be the best and healthiest version of ourselves. By making time for our own exercise, making healthy food choices and demonstrating a positive attitude to our own body shape, we have a huge impact on our children. Although this is not always easy, it is truly the most effective and powerful road to take.
What will exercising with my child do for them?
- Improved cardiovascular fitness (heart and lungs)
- Maintenance of a healthy weight
- Improved posture
- Better sleep patterns
- Increased self-esteem and confidence
- Improved concentration
- Help with relaxation
- Building stronger bones and muscles
- Improved balance
- Skill development
- Increased flexibility
- Opportunities to make friends and enhance social skills.
Doing a form of exercise as a family will build healthy habits in your child by getting active with them at a young age. You can all enjoy the health benefits mentioned above by working out together.
What can we do?
Bush/ Beach walks
We are very lucky in Australia to be blessed with amazing treks inland, and kilometers of coastline to get those steps in. Maybe set a little challenge to see if you can do 1-3km as a family with a very light jog and go from there (A 7-year-old can average 15,000 steps a day so go that bit further).
Create your own mobile gym
A couple of towels, some basic weights, a resistance band or two and you’re set. The hardest part is deciding where to set the gym up. Is it going to be the park, near the beach, the garage at home or at a friend’s house where there is more equipment?
Swimming
Swimming is a life skill we all should have, but also is an awesome way to keep fit. See who can get the most lengths completed in a certain time or over the course of a month, to create a habit and some consistency in training.
Bike
A great family activity is going on a big bike ride and seeing where you end up. There are so many designated cycle tracks with picnic stops along the way, make a day of it and burn a good few hundred calories in the process.
Here is a list of some quick tips to get the little ones moving and exercising without even realising.
- Whenever possible, contribute to your child’s interest in physical activity – for example, kick the ball with them when they ask.
- Show your child how to perform basic sporting skills, such as ball throwing, skipping and jumping. Children whose basic skills are poor, tend to avoid sports.
- Take them to the local playground and help them to use the equipment. Have a go yourself – slides and swings are fun, and you’re likely to play for longer if you’re enjoying it too.
- Try out different sports in age-appropriate classes. Many activities have been adapted for toddlers, including gymnastics, football and dance. A great example are our Little n Active classes for under 5s!
- Make sure that some family outings are physically active.
- Involve your child in physical activities around the home such as gardening, washing the car, or chores around the house.
- Walk short distances instead of taking the car. Encourage and support walking and cycling to school.
Your children will make you accountable for staying active and moving, as you would for them. Keep all parties happy by doing a few things together and reap the rewards.