3 Tips to Make Exercise Fun for Your Family
Getting your whole family involved in exercise is a great way to encourage your partner and children to get fit and healthy while also working on your own health goals.
However, it’s not always easy to get everybody in your family to participate in regular exercise, especially when you have young children. You might get them started with a daily exercise routine but keeping them engaged and motivated to move their bodies is another story.
So, how can you get your whole family excited about being physically active? Here are three top tips to make exercise fun for everybody.
Take Turn Leading
Taking sole responsibility for family activities can add unnecessary pressure to your time together, particularly when you are trying to find something everyone will enjoy. Instead, take turns being the leader! Even young children can take charge of leading an activity. Not only will this strategy ensure that everyone gets to participate in at least one activity they enjoy, it is a great opportunity to model turn-taking and leadership skills.
Turn it into a Game
If you are exercising with young children, turning the workout into a game is a great way to keep them engaged. Kids love to run around and play outside, so make the most of this!
Take them to the park and play a game of tag to get everyone’s heart rate up. Create a sprinting competition to see who can run the fastest from one point to another.
Finding fun and creative ways to exercise is the perfect way to keep everybody motivated to move their bodies while also providing essential family bonding time.
If the weather isn’t cooperating for outdoor play, consider an indoor dance party! Even if you don’t class yourself as the best dancer in the world, you can still have lots of fun moving your body to the music.
If you have young children, they are bound to love dancing around the room to their favorite tunes. If you are exercising with your partner, join a couple’s dance class and learn some classic dancing styles together. There are lots of great child-friendly dance classes too!
Reward Everybody After the Workout
Positive reinforcement can be extremely effective for ensuring everyone looks forward to the next family activity. By rewarding your family after they have worked out, they will associate exercise with positive thoughts and feelings.
First off, reward everyone with positive and specific praise. Let each member of your family know how much you enjoyed your time with them and highlight moments that were particularly memorable or fun.
You could also reward your family by letting them pick the next family activity! It could be choosing something to watch together, or picking a favorite meal to enjoy that evening.