One afternoon while I was biking in the park, I observed the coolest dad biking with his two young sons. He stopped and suggested the boys, both on two-wheelers with helmets on, see how many laps they could do around a covered shelter in a time period of 5 minutes. The boys were pedaling and laughing and having such fun! I shared that I had two grown sons and they would have loved the activity at that age. It was such an engaging form of exercise for their family. “Move together as a family.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdcTmpvDO0I

Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! program, promotes physical activity as a family. Studies show that children who “feel supported by friends and families to become active, or surrounded by others interested in physical activity, are more likely to participate”.  This program reports that children need 60 minutes of play with moderate to vigorous activity every day and adults need 30 minutes each day.

Here are some of the suggested activities:

• Give children toys that encourage physical activity like balls, kites, and jump ropes.
• Encourage children to join a sports team or try a new physical activity.
• Limit TV time and make a new house rule: no sitting still during television commercials.
• Walk around the block after a meal.
• Find time to spend together doing a fun activity: family park day, swim day or bike day.