5 Family Fitness Activities You Can Do Outside
Spring is in the air, and we are here for it. After a long, cold several months, who is ready to join us and take our workouts outside? In honor of National Fitness Day (the first Saturday of May), which falls on May 7th this year, we’ve put together a list of 5 family fitness activities that will get you moving while you enjoy the beautiful weather.
Including family fitness in your weekly routine has tremendous health benefits for everyone in the family. Working out with your kids builds the foundation for a lifetime of healthy habits and has the following benefits:
Improved memory.
Improved mood.
Reduced anxiety.
Reduced risk for obesity and diseases.
A stronger family bond.
Increased social and emotional development in your children.
At Edington Family Fitness, we know that our members have kids in a range of ages, so we’ve made sure the 5 family fitness activities on our list are suitable for families with both young and older kids. Whether it’s running a family 5k or playing a simple game of tag, the following will get your blood pumping, those endorphins flowing, your oxygen circulating, and those serotonin levels elevated.
Edington Family Fitness is offering a chance for the whole family to try one of our virtual fitness and online workouts FREE for National Fitness Day. Click HERE to get started!
Run a 5k
While running a long distance might be a challenge for those younger than 7, kids ages 7 and up should be able to do a run/walk combo to complete a 5k. You don’t have to sign up for an official race, but it would be fun to sign up for one, train for it, and complete it as a family. And there are many fun races to choose from, including color runs, superhero runs, zoo runs, and even a Disney run. Running has substantial health benefits for kids - it helps them sleep better, teaches perseverance and practice, and boosts self-esteem and confidence. Running is an excellent introduction to sports, and it is one sport that can become a lifelong sport. Unlike baseball, football, and soccer, with limited options to continue playing into adulthood, running can be done competitively (or for fun) at any age. If you don’t know where to start - there are plenty of online workouts and virtual fitness activities centered around running that will get you off to a good start training for your first 5k as a family.
Those with younger kids might not be able to do a full 5k, but most 5k runs have shorter options for families with small children. You can choose to walk instead of run - any distance you can make work as a family is still an excellent introduction to the sport.
Jump Rope
Jumping rope is one of the best total body and cardiovascular workouts around. Kids are often taught to jump rope from a very young age because it improves agility, hand-eye coordination, endurance, and balance. It’s also super fun. When was the last time you jumped rope? You should give it a whirl.
Families can use jump rope as part of their outside family fitness routine. There are many fun jump rope songs for young kids that even your teens will enjoy. We found a good list at care.com that involves rhyming, counting, and performing tricks - perfect for family fitness. And we bet even the adults will find a few of them a challenge.
Go on a Bike Ride
Ever heard the phrase “it’s like riding a bike?” If you haven’t ridden a bike in a while, hop on and give it a go. It’s one skill that if you know, you know. Once your kids can all ride a bike, it’s time for one of our favorite family fitness activities - family bike rides. But don’t worry. If your kids haven’t quite mastered the skill, there are many options for them to ride with your help, including a bike seat that attaches to your bike, a tandem bike attachment, or a bike trailer.
Family bike rides not only have fitness benefits, but they promote family bonding. Try a family bike ride to a destination like a park, the local farmer’s market, or even a coffee shop. The health and fitness benefits abound, and so do the family bonding time and memories you will make.
Play a Game
Family fitness should be fun, and an excellent way to incorporate fun into your fitness routine is by playing a game. Since there is so much more room to run and play outside, this is a great family fitness activity to take outdoors. Pick the game based on your child’s age and fitness level. Some ideas for family fitness games include:
Tag
Kickball
Hopscotch
Relay
Obstacle course
Any type of race
SPUD
Simon Says
Red Rover
Tug of War
The possibilities are endless. If you can’t decide (or agree) on what to play, have each person write down three options and draw from a hat. Pick a different game at the end of each workout to keep it fun and exciting.
Virtual Fitness Online Workout
Think virtual fitness is only for inside? Think again. You can easily do an online workout outside. Since Edington Family Fitness offers virtual fitness and online workouts for the whole family, we invite you and your family to try a virtual fitness class with us outside on May 7th to celebrate National Fitness Day. Grab the family and check out our FREE online workouts here.