The New and Improved Family Night

If you’re that parent who likes to plan family dinners, game night, or anything of that sort, here is another great idea to add to the schedule: Family Fitness!

Exercising together as a family is a great way to stay connected to your kids in a fun and active way.  Not to mention it keeps them away from television and video games for a little bit. 

Sometimes it’s hard for busy families to find a spare moment in their schedule to spend quality time together; setting a weekly night dedicated to this is a good way to make sure you aren’t losing sight of how important family time really is.

There are plenty of things you can do together right in your own backyard, such as playing catch, Frisbee or putting together a game of baseball with other neighborhood friends.  If you live in a safe neighborhood or have a path nearby, take the whole family out for a long bike ride. You could even prolong the afternoon by packing a picnic and riding to a park to enjoy your lunch.

If you’re looking for something a little more challenging, check out your local listings for places to hike.  This is a great way to introduce your children to a whole new style of exercise.  They can also explore new things along the way. 

Point out different plants, animals, flowers and insects you encounter during the day.  Also make sure to take pictures of the beautiful scenery you come across.

When you reach your destination, your whole family will feel a sense of accomplishment – together.

Although the above activities are all outdoors, don’t think that just because the weather turns cooler you can’t keep up  with your family fitness excursions!  Bring the exercise indoors with new fitness-inspired video game consoles such as the Wii and Kinect.

Join a local gym and make specific gym dates to go as family.  Try out a group exercise class or just work out together on your own.  

Show your kids now how important it is to spend time with family so that when they grow up, they do the same with their own family. 

Keeping fitness at the top of your priorities will benefit your whole family in the long run since studies have shown that exercise leads to improved brain functioning, specifically with memory and learning abilities.

Sticking to the family theme, reward yourselves after a day full of fitness with a delicious and healthy family dinner!