There was a time when the fun had to be made and when fresh air was kids' primary energy source. Today, however, many parents find themselves battling to keep their children physically engaged—and maybe fighting an interior war on the matter themselves. Staying fit and having fun with your household can actually go hand in hand, but only if you know how to integrate fitness organically into your life. Our experts on apartments in Fort Myers, FL, recommend you follow these five tips for keeping your whole family in shape:
There's nothing a kid loves more than playing with his mom and dad, and constructing a playhouse is possibly the best way to get parents in on the action. You don't have to be agile with a saw and hammer to construct a playhouse. All you really need is a large box. Cut out windows and a door, add a roof, and maybe paint a flower bed on the facade. Voila! A new play space where kids can stretch their creativity and stay engaged, all thanks to your support.
Sometimes, it takes a strong sense of curiosity to draw a child outdoors and into nature. Teach your children to be adventurers. Take them to a regional park or national forest and allow them to explore the various trails and get familiarized with the wildlife there. Then, get in there with them and appreciate a brisk trek along one of the twisted paths. Bonus points if you can locate a park with a nature center that actually teaches about the native wildlife.
It's unrealistic to ban TV watching for the whole summer (or even a night, really), so don't. Instead, just try to reinvent what TV time is all about. Inspire your kids to watch energetic shows that will have them sing and dance to every scene. If your children have incredibly active imaginations, see if they'll hop in and act out a scene they just witnessed during the commercial break. Keep a yoga mat and hand weights in the living room so that you can work out while they do.
Bicycling is a fine sport for families because you can go at whatever speed suits you. So even if your partner has knee problems and your littlest offspring can't maintain a quick pace, the low-impact, laid-back workout will still work for everybody. Begin biking as a brood on flat, paved trails at nearby parks and graduate to more challenging terrain like mountain paths as the kids get older and more daring.
When the weekend comes around—or summer vacation—your kids' first intuition is probably to roll out of bed around 11 and seize the iPad or XBOX controller immediately. Maybe it's time to renovate their thinking. Instead of allowing your youngsters to waste away indoors all day, plan a fun outside activity that will get them eager to see the sun. Treasure or scavenger quests are always a massive hit with kids. Host a water balloon toss if you can get the entire neighborhood in on it.