OT Fitness – a fantastic way to engage all kids no matter what their fitness level.
With a week off school, it’s tempting to just let children sleep in and play video games. Don’t let the five days go by without getting the children in your life to run, jump and play. Get the blood pumping! Keeping kids physically active doesn’t have to involve highly organized and structured pursuits. Here are some simple activities you can implement on the spur of the moment.
Have your kids put on their favourite music and dance with them for 20 to 30 minutes. It’s bonding time that’s fun and engaging while being silly and free. Try different songs every day; this will give you an opportunity to introduce your kids to some of your favourite tunes from back in the day.
Walk with your children through the neighbourhood playing eye spy. If the weather outside is frightful, try doing this in a mall or community centre.
Build snowmen and make snow angels. If you and your kids have a need for speed, there is always sledding down the nearest hill in the neighbourhood.
Go ice-skating. Many outdoor rinks, weather permitting may still be open. Tim Hortons will be hosting free ice-skating during the March Break at some community centres in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Quebec and Ontario. Visit http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/difference/free-skating.html for times and locations.
Kids love to watch television but what about making it challenging. Have them (along with yourself) do push ups, jumping jacks, crunches, lunges or squats during commercial breaks. See who can do the most by the end of the week.
Walk to your local grocery store and buy items for a meal you can cook together. Cooking, with all of the reaching, stretching, bending and moving back and forth is another way to increase activity levels without really thinking about it. Do a few meals and enjoy the bonding and learning too.
Your kids don’t have to be budding superstars or have gym memberships to play drop-in sports at recreation centres. Sports for children, youth and teens include basketball, soccer, badminton, lacrosse, multi-sport, ball hockey, floor hockey, tennis, swimming, Zumba and more. Consult your municipality’s recreation guide or do an online search for drop-in sports plus your city for locations, times and activities.
Ontario is blessed with some beautiful trails, wonderful for hiking and exploring. Take some photos, make an afternoon of it and enjoy the peace and quiet or the chance to talk to each other without distractions.
When you make exercise fun, it becomes something you and your children can look forward to and not a chore, which will help create lifelong, healthy habits and good memories.
