Making Fitness A Family Affair

Keeping it simple and fun is the key to making fitness part of the family routine.

Children learn from the example that parents provide: If you read, they'll read; If you eat healthy food, they 'll eat healthy food; and if you exercise regularly, so will they. Or better yet, why not get everybody to engage in physical fitness activities together? The key to successful family fitness is to keep it simple and fun for everyone. Make your activities a family tradition that everyone will look forward to.

Always increase your physical activity gradually to avoid straining muscles and injury. Be sure to stretch and drink plenty of water, too.

Simple activities for getting fit

You don't have to join a gym or spend a lot of money to stay fit. Get the whole family involved in these simple and fun physical fitness activities in the great outdoors.

• When possible take the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator. Walk instead of driving, especially for short distances.

• Don't park too close to your destination. When you go to the mall or the grocery store, park far away from the store in the parking lot. This will force everyone to walk a little more.

• Do chores together. Wash the car, rake some leaves, work in the garden.

• Take the family on a walk. Make a habit of taking a family walk in the neighborhood, in or around a park or to a destination (the mailbox, your school, a friend's house). Or incorporate one of these types of transport into your neighborhood tour: roller skates, rollerblades, bicycles or skateboards. (Be sure to wear helmets and the necessary padding.)

• Take a walk or run on a local school track. Count your laps!

• Get on your bikes and go. Biking is a great family activity. You can start out on short neighborhood rides and build up to rides on local bike trails. Be sure everyone wears a helmet for safety.

• Go on a treasure hunt in your neighborhood. Compile a list of "simple treasures" to hunt for on your walk: a leaf with beautiful colors, a shiny penny, a can to be recycled. Or make a list of things to notice as you walk: Find a house with a red door. Look for a specific kind of car parked in a driveway. What else might you hunt for? Have everyone in your family contribute "treasures" to hunt for on your list.

• Play catch.

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