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The benefits that physical activity has on both adults and children are countless. As a parent, what other reason do we have to be healthy than to live a long, healthy life for our children. Being active improves the obvious like better heart health, stronger bones, weight loss and lowering the risk of diabetes. But did you know staying active also improves our cognitive function, improves sleep, increases energy, balances mood and hormones, increases the immune system and above all can slow the aging process! As a parent, can you imagine how much better of a parent you would be with more sleep, less bad moods, less colds and more energy!! If you need motivation, that should be it!
Time flies when your life is consumed with children. In a very short amount of time they go from needing help and guidance to thinking they know it all. Use the small amount of time you have to be a fitness role model. Show them that being active is fun and take the time to point out the benefits. It is never too late to get started nor are you ever too old to act like a kid with your children!
Dr Beth Laubach
1: J Phys Act Health. 2010 Sep;7(5):577-83
2: US CDC, Exercise or Phyiscal Activity
Dr .Beth Laubach, B.S., D.C., CACCP is a graduate of Mesa State College with a B.S. in Exercise Physiology and is an honors graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, IA. She is an upstanding member of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association and is an active member for the non-profit organization, The Foundation for Wellness Professionals. She has also received the distinguished honor as a Certified Chiropractic Wellness Practitioner through the International Chiropractic Association. Additionally, she has completed over 250 hours of post-doctorate education in the fields of pregnancy care and pediatrics. Accordingly, she is certified through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association as a expert in working with women in all stages of pregnancy as well as infants and children. In addition to her credentials as a wellness doctor and pediatric specialist, Dr. Laubach is a loving wife and mother of two beautiful young daughters. She practices privately in the Poconos at her office, Back 2 Health, where she has be received the distinguished honor of being named the Pocono Record's Reader's Choice 1st place Chiropractor in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Kids will remember being splashed by Mom and Dad while washing cars… they will not remember what movies they watch to be kept quiet! Some examples of “fun” family activities are: hide-and-go-seek, dance parties in the living room, handstand contests against the wall, hop scotch, washing cars, and skipping in the parking lot from the car to the store. How can you make seasonal changes fun? Sledding, building snowmen, hiking to a picnic spot, water balloon fights, cannon ball contests and roller skating are just a few ideas! The most important priority when being active with your kids is to be 100% engaged. Put the phones down. Turn off the TV. Be present!
3: Be Organized
Having children takes out the ability to fly by the seat of your pants! The days of taking extra time to figure out how you want to get your work out in is becoming extinct. It is now time to prepare and if needed ask for help! Since available workout time is typically less, it is time to be more productive during your times of activity! For your gym workouts, ask for help! Have a trainer help you write up a program that fits your fitness goals. Hire a trainer to make your available 30 minutes a productive, intense workout! At home, look at your chores! How can you add activity to them? Do squats while folding laundry, lunge walking from room to room to dust, sprint up the stairs when putting things away! Decide to make these changes, then stick to them! Again, involve the kids! Have them come up with ideas of how to make their chores more fun and active then stick to the changes! Being organized simply means to have a plan of action – so make one for your work outs!