Looking to keep your family active and healthy? Whether it's a weekend adventure or daily movement, getting your family moving together is a great way to boost everyone's physical and mental health.
Exercise does wonders for both body and mind. Physical activity can help everyone in your family sleep better, reduce stress, and improve overall mood. For kids, staying active can boost their focus in school and support healthy growth.
Immediate Benefits of Exercise:
- Improved sleep quality
- Lower stress and anxiety
- Boosted mood
Long-Term Benefits of Exercise:
- Reduced risk of chronic diseases
- Improved physical strength and coordination
- Healthier heart and stronger muscles
Fun Exercise Ideas For Your Family:
Preschool-Aged Children (Ages 3-5)
- Games such as Tag or Follow the Leader: Great for burning energy and teaching kids to follow directions.
- Tricycle or bicycle riding: Perfect for building balance and coordination while having fun outdoors.
- Walking, running, skipping, jumping, dancing: Turn up the tunes and have a family dance-off!
- Playing games that require catching, throwing, and kicking a ball or frisbee: Try different activities to see what your child enjoys most and encourage them as their coordination grows.
School-Aged Children (Ages 6-10)
- Bicycle riding: Bike together and explore local parks or trails.
- Active recreation (hiking, riding a scooter without a motor, or swimming)
- Active games involving running and chasing: Bring back the classic recess games like tag or flag football.
- Jump rope competitions: Challenge each other to see who can jump the longest. You can even show off your jump rope tricks or learn some together.
Adolescents (Ages 11-17)
- Active recreation (kayaking, hiking, and swimming): These are fun activities for a weekend or summer trip.
- Fitness videogames: Find videogames that encourage continuous movement, like "Just Dance," or VR experiences like "Beat Saber." These would be great options for rainy Ohio days.
- Active sports like flag football, soccer, or basketball
- Gardening: It's not just relaxing- it's also a physical activity! Use this opportunity to discuss the importance of finding activities to help calm you after a stressful day.
- Running: Your teen or tween doesn't have to be on a school sports team to learn to enjoy running. Consider signing up for a 5k together and building a running plan.
Discover Amazing Things To Do in Franklin County!
Obstacle Course: Challenge yourself on a fitness obstacle course at Glacier Ridge or Scioto Audubon Parks.
Outdoor Exercise Stations: Move your workout outside to an outdoor exercise station at Blacklick Woods or Sharon Woods park.
Pet Trails & Activities: Who said you couldn't exercise with your dog? Whether you are looking for a dog park or a pet trail, the Columbus metro area has so much to explore.
Biking: Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks have about 75 miles of bike trails in various terrains!
How do you get kids moving?
Getting kids excited about exercise is key to building healthy habits—when movement feels fun, engaging, and rewarding, they’ll be more motivated to stay active every day.
- Set A Family Goal: Aim for 30 minutes of activity together each day.
- Mix It Up: Try different activities so no one gets bored.
- Track Progress: Celebrate milestones when you track them with a fitness tracker, app, or physical calendar.
- Make It Fun: Let kids choose their favorite activities, add some music, and get going!
Moving together creates lasting memories and supports better health regardless of your family's age or fitness level. So, grab your sneakers, get outside, and start making movement part of your family's routine today!
Sources:
https://odphp.health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Physical_Activity_Guidelines_2nd_edition.pdf
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults