Teaching your children about physical health and activity is an important responsibility. Showing them how to make fitness fun is a great way to bond as a family while encouraging living a healthy, active lifestyle. If you make the activities fun and rewarding, your point will be made. These toys of active living are excellent tools to get your family outside.
Tents are a Gateway
Tents are typically just for camping, but they do serve as a gateway to other activities in the great outdoors besides camping. A strong connection exists between camping and an active lifestyle. 88% of campers participate in a multitude of outdoor activities. Explore the great outdoors as a family while you teach your children that an active lifestyle can be adventurous and fun.
Taking your tent around the country can allow you and your family to spend more time in national parks hiking, exploring, and taking in nature. Hike up into the mountains and gaze at stars and take in the local plant and animal life over a few days. Backpack across a mountain range during the summer. This will give you great opportunities for hiking, camping, climbing, and more. There are many places you can only reach by hiking or climbing. Bringing a tent along will help you see the world!
Invest in an Above-Ground Pool
Among children between the ages of 7 to 17 in the United States, swimming is one of the most popular recreational activities, and an above-ground pool costs over 70% less than an in-ground pool. Your family can enjoy the classics like water polo, volleyball, swimming and splashing competitions, or create your own unique family game that gets everyone moving. Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular workout, and is one of the most popular forms of exercise, especially in the warmer months.
If your family loves the water and staying fit, look into some easy water aerobics exercises you can do together in your pool. This will give you a set activity to do to strengthen muscles and stay fit before you get into the fun or relaxing activities you had in mind like floating around or cooling off.
Fun on a Budget with a Net
A multi-purpose net for volleyball and badminton is an inexpensive piece of equipment that unites the entire family in competition. If expending energy is your goal you can research some water activities to try out with the whole family. For example, volleyball players jump as many as 300 times in a game. On the other hand, badminton is the 2nd most popular sport in the world. These two activities require cooperation and communication which are excellent skills to develop among family members and can even be played in the pool, a cool environment to get active.
If you have younger children or don’t like volleyball or badminton, pool-friendly nets and balls are great toys to get imaginations going and encourage fun forms of exercise. New games can be made up and formed just to stay in the pool—anything to stay cool and have fun! These games often translate well to land for year-round activity, too.
Adventure in a Kayak
Kayaking is a great community activity since it is appropriate for all age groups and people of different fitness levels. This activity builds upper-body strength and while helping you see the world. Additionally, kayaking can help promote better mental health as it gets you in the outdoors, encourages physical activity, and helps you connect with others. Kayaking is also appropriate for many climates and different types of water. You can explore the sea while whale watching, fish on a serene lake, guide your family down a creek or river, or explore the plant-life along a quiet river. The versatility of this vessel means you can launch your kayak almost anywhere you want to go. Before investing in your own, be sure to make sure you have the proper equipment needed to transport your kayak. You should also look into safety tips, proper apparel, and lessons. Once your family is experienced enough, you can set out on your own and bond in nature while out on the water.
Conquering the great outdoors and staying active as a family will create many bonding experiences and fun memories. Whether it’s a short trip to the local campgrounds or a week navigating down a river, your family will become closer while having fun. Not only will you be closer as a family, you’ll be more active and healthy as well. And that is priceless!
