According to the CDC, childhood obesity has doubled in the past 30 years. It is recommended that children have at least one hour of physical activity per day. Children’s fitness activities should be age-appropriate, full of variety, and most important…fun!

Please remember that at A Family Tree, we do outside activities for one hour each day, even in the winter! So be sure to pack appropriate clothing for your child such as mittens and a hat.

When not at our center, here are some fun children’s fitness ideas to keep them moving:

• Go for a walk at Goddard Park. It’s free and there are neat trails to walk, you might even walk into a horse! If you have plenty of time on your hands, bring a healthy snack for a picnic on the beach.

• Go swimming (indoor or outdoor).

• Go ice skating. There are usually half-price Groupons for outdoor skating in the winter season. If you are going to ice skate outside, please have an adult safety check the ice first!

• Play Frisbee, catch, or tag.

• Try family yoga at a local community center.

• Hula hoop along to their favorite songs.

• Play Simon Says with fun exercises. For example: Simon says walk like a crab. Simon says pretend to shoot a basketball 10 times. Simon says hop on your right foot 10 times.

• Do a kids couch to 5K program as a family.

Children are always watching, so it’s important to strive to model active and healthy behavior. Don’t be afraid to get out and be active with them, even if it’s just to go walking. A walk in nature allows you to talk about your day and have some special time together.

If walking isn’t your thing, try learning a new exercise video together. I did this with my mom when I was younger and had the time of my life! We did modified Pilates (because let’s face it, that can be challenging!) and it was something just for the two of us.

What are some things that your family likes to do for children’s fitness?

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