FRIDAY: Exercise and Activity

It is shocking how few moments you need to spend with your children in physical activity to have an impact.  My daughter will ask us to go on a roller blade ride every night.  Although I have a million other things I’d rather do than roller blade when its 45 degrees and windy, it usually only takes us about 15 minutes or less to go around the neighborhood.  This is NO BIG DEAL.

Dr. Kenneth Cooper M.D. says, “

The Most serious threat to physical activity begins as early as age nine.  Many children feel that they’re not good enough to play sports or they don’t react well to competition.  As a result, they drop out of organized sports programs and sometimes are turned off to any type of physical activity.”

Here’s any even faster activity that literally took 10 minutes out of my day, but my kids had a blast!  This is my first blog video! And its only 30 seconds, I think you have time.

Spring is the perfect time to take your family on a hike.  Not too hot, not too cold. Maybe a little wet, but hey they are kids. Mud is good.  I have been taking my kids on hikes since they were quite young and they are so good at it. 

First I love to hike. Second, I took some Young women from my church on a hike one summer, and could not believe the complaining and the grumbling that went on that day. And it was a paved trail!  They were “too tired, too thirsty, too hot, too everything!”  And they were 15 years old. I decided that day, my kids were not going to be complainers when it came to physical activity and we have been hiking ever since. 

Start young, and start easy.  Luckily in Utah there are so many hikes easy for small children.  Get a book about your area, google it,  or ask around.  Even if you don’t live near the mountains, maybe a river trail, a park,whatever, get them walking. Don’t be in a hurry.  Let them explore and learn about the environment.  Pick up trash and talk about taking care of your environment.
One thing I say every time we embark on a hike is this, “If you get lost, what should you do?” And in unison they respond with  “STAY PUT!!”