A recent study found that children were three to six times more likely to be active later in life when one or both parents were active than when both parents were inactive.
As a parent, you know that your behavior can have a lasting effect on your children. Among the many components of parental influence, being active with your child has been shown to have a significant impact.
Being physically active will boost your child’s confidence, give them strength and, when done as a family, will bolster their social and emotional development. It will help your children create lifelong healthy habits. Being active doesn’t only benefit kids. As a parent, you’ll notice the effects of good health, too.
Michigan summers are the perfect time to put family fitness into practice. Michigan families are fortunate to have several options to be active during the summer months. Here are five ways to get started:
- Utilize Michigan’s Waters
Michigan residents don’t have an issue accessing fresh, unsalted water in the land of the great lakes. Water activities such as swimming, water skiing, tubing and kayaking will all get your heart rate up and blood pumping. Spending time in the water is a fun activity that keeps you cool from the summer sun and it can be a great form exercise. But be sure to always keep water safety in mind, especially for young children.
- Free Play
The easiest way to get the whole family moving is unstructured play time in the backyard.
Kristina Rich, wellness coordinator at Priority Health says, “You really don’t need to purchase equipment to be physically fit. There are plenty of options around the house such as passing around a soccer ball, playing tag, throwing a frisbee. You can also use household objects for activities such as relay races or setting up an obstacle course.”
- Plan an Active Vacation
Pick something adventurous (and active) for you and your family to do on your summer vacation or day trips.
With more than 1,300 miles of trails in Michigan, there is much to see and explore. Bike the eight miles around Mackinac Island, climb the Sleeping Bear Dunes and get all the way to the lake, kayak around Pictured Rocks National Park. These activities will get your kids outdoors and active, and give them countless memories of the beautiful mitten state.
- Workout with Your Child
Instead of leaving the kids with a babysitter, consider taking them with you the next time you go to the gym. Most gyms have a kids club that promotes activity, or if they’re a certain age, many gyms let kids work out with their parents. If you don’t have a gym membership, consider popping in an exercise DVD or using a free workout app to guide your routine. At home workouts are a convenient and easy solution for families with busy schedules. By teaching proper exercise and form, you can help you kids gain the skills they need to be active for life.
- Attend Events with a 5K/10K
Festivals are plentiful during the summer in Michigan and recently, fun runs and walks have become a huge hit as part of the festivities. The Arts Beats & Eats event in Royal Oak has the Priority Health Move to the Beat 5K/10K, which is non-competitive and benefits local charities. Generally, events with fun runs allow for all ages to participate. This is a fun and easy way to get the whole family moving, while showing support for good causes.
The weather is beautiful and the days are long during Michigan summers. Use that time to get outside, play and be active with your kids – take a walk, ride bikes, swim, play tag, whatever it is you’ll be showing your kids that exercise is enjoyable and helping them develop lasting healthy habits. For more information on festivals, gyms, parks or trails, visit www.michigan.org or your local YMCA for ways to get active this summer.
