It’s in the news almost daily – childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic in the United States. For that matter, it’s impacting adults as well as children. What can you, as an adult and/or a parent do? If you have a swimming pool, we believe you have an ideal place for family fun and activity that doesn’t even seem like exercise.
Consider these five ways swimming pools keep kids active:
- You can’t play if you don’t have the right “tools”. Make sure you have toys that will inspire activity and play. Keep basketballs, soccer balls, baseballs and beach balls within easy reach. Play a rousing game of badminton with the family. Have a jump roping contest to see who can jump the most without missing! Play with hula hoops or take a bike ride together. If it’s snowing you can bundle up, head outside and make a snowman.
- Join in the fun. Rather than just shooing the kids out of doors and expecting they will be active, join in. Children learn by example and they will be more engaged and inspired if Mom and Dad are part of the fun.
- Do you have too many activities that you love to do and can’t decide which to choose? Or do you have some activities that are favorites of one family member but not the others? Put together an “activity jar” and let every family member write down, on a slip of paper, their favorite activities, put them in the jar and then take turns drawing an activity. It’s in the news almost daily – childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic in the United States. For that matter, it’s impacting adults as well as children. What can you, as an adult and/or a parent do? If you have a swimming pool, we believe you have an ideal place for family fun and activity that doesn’t even seem like exercise.
Consider these five ways swimming pools keep kids active:
- You can’t play if you don’t have the right “tools”. Make sure you have toys that will inspire activity and play. Keep basketballs, soccer balls, baseballs and beach balls within easy reach. Play a rousing game of badminton with the family. Have a jump roping contest to see who can jump the most without missing! Play with hula hoops or take a bike ride together. If it’s snowing you can bundle up, head outside and make a snowman.
- Join in the fun. Rather than just shooing the kids out of doors and expecting they will be active, join in. Children learn by example and they will be more engaged and inspired if Mom and Dad are part of the fun.
- Do you have too many activities that you love to do and can’t decide which to choose? Or do you have some activities that are favorites of one family member but not the others? Put together an “activity jar” and let every family member write down, on a slip of paper, their favorite activities, put them in the jar and then take turns drawing one so you can take turns doing activities that you will all enjoy.
- If you’re just getting into activities with the children, set a time limit. Why? It may be hard to get them away from the television or video games so if you tell them, “we’re going to go outside and play for an hour.” Increase the time as everyone learns that it’s a part of your new family routine. Plan to spend time in the swimming pool then have a picnic dinner around the pool; what a great way to indulge in the out of doors.
- If you have a swimming pool, you have an ideal place for family fun and activity that doesn’t even seem like exercise! With proper supervision, play games like Marco Polo, invest in a poolside basketball hoop, have timed races doing a lap or two, get a volleyball net or simply splash around.
There may be sounds of grumbling at first. If your family has been accustomed to relaxing and spending time together on the couch, it will take a bit of time to get this new, fun habit to be part of your new routine, but you will quickly reap the benefits of better health and family memory-making time together.
If you’re just getting into activities with the children, set a time limit. Why? It may be hard to get them away from the television or video games so if you tell them, “we’re going to go outside and play for an hour.” Increase the time as everyone learns that it’s a part of your new family routine. Plan to spend time in the swimming pool then have a picnic dinner around the pool; what a great way to indulge in the out of doors.
If you have a swimming pool, you have an ideal place for family fun and activity that doesn’t even seem like exercise! With proper supervision, play games like Marco Polo, invest in a poolside basketball hoop, have timed races doing a lap or two, get a volleyball net or simply splash around.
There may be sounds of grumbling at first. If your family has been accustomed to relaxing and spending time together on the couch, it will take a bit of time to get this new, fun habit to be part of your new routine, but you will quickly reap the benefits of better health and family memory-making time together.
