Making fitness fun really helps motivate everyone in your family. You may have heard that this is an effective approach, but maybe you aren’t sure how to implement it in your family. Here are some ideas for various age groups in the family, and some suggestions for fitness games and activities for that age.
Babies
Babies can’t walk yet, but young babies enjoy watching movement. Put on some music and have your family move to entertain the baby! One of the safest things you can do is a dance with scarves. Babies love the swirling movement of brightly colored cloth, and if someone drops his or her scarf, it won’t hurt anyone. Ribbons are another safe and colorful option. Family members can dance around the baby and get exercise in the process.
Toddlers
Toddlers are naturally active, and they want to move and explore. Encourage this with games. One idea is to set up “stations” around the house and/or yard. One station may have crafts, another sand – still another could have water play. Toddlers can move from one to the other and stay active at each one. Once again, dancing is a fun option. Toddlers like rollicking music, and older family members can dance along, too.
While toddlers are too young to go on long hikes and walks, you might consider taking your toddler on a bike ride in an attached safety seat. You can also pull your toddler in a wagon and take a walk, or purchase a specially-made backpack that will hold a toddler. The whole family can participate.
Preschoolers
This is another naturally active age. Preschoolers can play games like Follow the Leader or hide-and-seek. Preschoolers may enjoy jumping rope, throwing and kicking a ball, or playing age-appropriate sports. There are so many simple games you can do at home with preschoolers – make a bowling alley with empty plastic bottles set up at the end of a hallway; run races; rake leaves into a pile and jump in them. Don’t be afraid to get creative here!
Gradeschool
In grade school, kids can enjoy more organized games. Families can throw Frisbees and balls together, or learn/practice sports (like catching, kicking, throwing, hitting a ball with a bat, etc.). You can sign the family up for lessons together, too, like tennis, ice skating, horseback riding, or martial arts.
Middle School
Most middle school-aged kids wouldn’t be caught dead playing games with their parents. So you have to be a bit sneakier with this age and focus more on your peers. For example, dance parties with their friends would be a great way to have fun and get fit.
Middle schoolers like trying to be independent, so encourage (safe) activities when you won’t be directly present, such as a camp-out in your yard and/or a short hike where you can keep an eye on everyone without being noticed. Middle schoolers might enjoy playing interactive computer games with their friends, too – the sort of games where everyone ends up getting a workout.
High School
In high school, kids might find organized sports and lessons fun. At this age, kids definitely like hanging out with their peers rather than their parents, so encourage fun and active events with friends. If your high schooler is reluctant, get with the parents of your child’s friend. See if you can get your kids to join a sports team or start lessons of some sort together.
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