Do you find that your family spends more time together watching television than being physically active? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and obesity now affects 17 percent of all children and adolescents nationwide. With summer approaching, it’s the perfect time to take your family outdoors and embrace a healthy living lifestyle. Here are a few fun activities for the whole family to enjoy!
1. Go for a ride!
Start or end your day with a family bike ride. Biking not only improves your health (it’s good cardiovascular exercise), but it can also help the environment because you’re not burning fossil fuels, which causes air pollution. Choose a destination and enjoy the scenery and the sun along the way.
2. Walk for a good cause!
Is your family passionate about a specific cause? Sign up for a summer family fun 5k run/walk that you all can enjoy. Preparing to participate in a 5k will give you time to bond as you get ready for the event. Create a music playlist as a family and train throughout the week by taking walks after dinner. Encourage each other by creating incentives throughout your training until you get to the big day. This is also a great way opportunity to give back to your community and connect with people around you.
3. Go for a swim!
Swimming is always a sure-fire hit with the kids. Swimming is a low-impact aerobic exercise that offers great health benefits for everyone, no matter their fitness level. Going for a swim is a fun way to keep your family fit and a fun way to exercise while beating the heat. Don’t forget to toss the beach ball around and always wear sunscreen!
4. Give rollerblading a try!
This super-fun activity offers cardiovascular benefits that equal those of running, cycling and other intense workouts, but is also amusing, light-hearted and fun for individuals of all ages. Plus, rollerblading can promote balance, endurance and flexibility, and is a great way to introduce kids to sports like hockey, figure skating, etc.
5. Plant a garden!
