How to build an active family lifestyle

Being active with your kid is a great way to spend time together as a family. It's a wonderful way to learn more about what’s happening in your child’s life, while at the same time building a culture of physical activity that your child is likely to practice for the rest of their lives. You will be able to leave a legacy of good communication and a healthy lifestyle. The endorphins released while exercising improve your mood and generally opens you and your child up to having better conversations with each other…it even works with teens!

push their comfort levels by signing them up for sports, you will need to lead by example too. Pick one activity that you and your child can learn together e.g. sign up for a martial arts class, a triathlon training program, a 5K training program, a dance class etc. Commit to three months together. Or make a plan to go hiking every weekend for three months as a family.

Next step:

Pull out your calendar and mark down what you are going to be doing with your children on what days and at what time. Parents need to take the lead on this. If your child is highly motivated get their input. If they are not motivated give them two options to choose from and if they can’t choose you have to make this choice for them. Then just start doing it today! If you have several kids take them all. This is a way for your whole family to build an active culture. No one can back out. Just like your children can’t back out of going to school! It’s just what you do as a family and what we do as a culture. They are welcome to complain and that’s okay, just like we all sometimes complain about things in our life but still do them. You can start off by participating in a Turkey Trot event on thanksgiving.  Here are some listing of Bay Area Turkey Trots.

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What is this exactly?

Spend some time brainstorming what you would like to do with your kids. Write a list of 10 activities that you can do together. For parents who are active include your kids in your activities. If you run, take them with you sometimes. If you bike, buy them a bike and bike together once or twice a week. Go swimming together every weekend or buy a soccer ball and go kick it in the park, or join a group playing soccer in the park.

 If you are a parent who is inactive or un-athletic, I’d like you to list at least 3-5 physical activities you enjoyed at any point in your life. You can also list 3-5 activities that you have always been curious about but haven’t yet done or have thought you were too out of condition to do. Since you are going to be asking (or making) your child