Fit Families, Fit Kids

Years ago, the average young person was an important worker around the home, carrying water and wood, and helping out in the garden. The diet consisted of three square home-cooked meals that included some of those fresh veggies. This is no longer the case. Now, we live in a world of delectable goodies and sedentary entertainment. Unfortunately, this is a recipe for gaining weight.

So Mom, Dad, and all you youngsters, it's time to get off the couch, turn off that video game, and get moving. You'll be surprised how much fun it can be to make fitness a way of life. If you have a dog, be sure to get your canine pal in on the act, because many of them are a bit chunky, too.

A good place to start pursuing fitness is to take a family walk. If you live in the city, you might like to find a public track or walking trail for your trek. In the country, you can walk along roads, or even take to the cross country trail, traipsing over hill and dale.

For modern families, one of the drawbacks to family fitness is finding a time to do it. But look at it like this. Of all the things we work hard to get in this world, does anything quite pay off like our personal health? Make getting some exercise a priority, and you can surely carve a slot of time out of that busy schedule.

As you take that family stroll, though, here is something to keep in mind. Exercise needs to be consistent if it is to improve anyone's fitness level. It doesn't need to be done every day, but it does need to happen at least three or four times a week. A half hour of activity is a bare minimum each time. Kids can easily romp around for an hour or more.

At home, you can find all kinds of fun ways to play with your kids both outside and in. When was the last time you played tether ball or badminton? How about flying kites? Rover would probably enjoy a rousing game of fetch, or even just running together. If your kids are into team sports, consider doing calisthenics with them to help them excel.

Fitness is a family goal that is well worth pursuing. Get off that couch and get moving!