Everyone needs to stay fit and healthy, so what better bonding activity than to exercise with your kids? City fitness experts weigh in on activities, games and challenges that are perfect for families of all ages and sizes—and a lot of fun, too!
Turn Your Local Park Into A Personal Gym: There’s no need to buy expensive exercise equipment when you have so many city parks at your disposal. A park bench is perfect for exercising for both kids and adults—try using it for push-ups, squats, and step-ups, suggests Cathe Thompson, Group Fitness Manager at Equinox. Modify the activity for your kids by reducing repetitions and make sure they stretch before they start.
The Pedometer Challenge: With so much to see, walking in the city is a great exercise option for families. If your kids need some extra motivation to get moving, try the pedometer challenge. “Give each family member a pedometer and start a tracking chart,” says Ellen Murphy, senior director of communications and public relations for the YMCA of Greater New York. Entice your kids with rewards the whole family can enjoy, like activities and daytrips, for reaching certain milestones. “For reaching 70,000 steps a week you can take a trip to a mini golf course or the beach,” Murphy says.
Fitness Tag: This twist on tag gives a physical boost to the classic game. Instead of standing in place once you’re tagged, think of a challenging but fun physical activity, like jumping jacks or balancing on one foot, and continue to do it until you get untagged, suggests Lisa Sanguiliano, senior director of healthy lifestyles for the YMCA of Greater New York. “Balancing activities are especially fun. They challenge kids and are great for their bodies,” Sanguiliano says.
The Commercial Break Home Fitness Circuit: Squeeze in some exercise to your family’s favorite television show. “Instead of preparing a snack, families can spend the commercial break doing a home fitness circuit,” says Murphy. Start off with jumping jacks to get the blood moving and loosen up. For a dynamic stretch and core workout, families can try opposite elbow-opposite-knee twists, or yoga poses. Then move on to core strengthening activities such as wall sits or planks before finishing with group stretching; try sitting with your legs in a “v” shape, facing another family member, and gently pull each other forward or backward. With a great family program and exercise during commercial breaks, you’ll take TV time to a whole new level.
