By Staff
Having children at home is definitely a full time job! So who has time to work out? Believe it or not there are many inventive ways to include exercise into your busy lifestyle!
Importance for parents to exercise:
1. We are the eyes of our children. If we exercise and stay healthy then they will mimic our positive behaviors.
2. We put so much time into making sure our houses are clean, etc. why not use some of that time to take care of one the most important things – our bodies.
3. I believe keeping your bodies healthy is a positive statement for your children. You are showing them how much you care about them by staying healthy and exercising. If we do not keep ourselves up then who is there to run and play with our children?
4. The body is the one thing that by using it over and over again it will get better and not deteriorate.
5. Exercising helps all the organs in our bodies.
6. It helps against osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, etc.
7. It helps oxygen and blood flow through the muscles efficiently.
8. Helps burn calories.
9. Regular exercise can help prevent the effects of aging.
10. You can have nicer, tighter skin.
11. It will give you more strength when you have grandchildren.
12. And it will give us something all parents need: more energy!
Tip 1 – For parents who want to exercise while their children are taking a nap:
1. Clean the house. For example when you are vacuuming do walking lunges or squats. When you clean the windows wipe them by using big arm circles.
2. Pop in an aerobics tape.
3. Buy light dumbbells and lift weights.
4. Turn on some music and just dance.
Tip 2 – For parents who want to exercise while their children are awake:
1. When you are cleaning include your children. Give them dry paper towels and let them go around and clean.
2. If your children are old enough – put them on your back and do push ups. This is great for your arms and chest.
3. If they are light enough put them on your lower legs and do an abdominal workout. Bring your legs to your chest and back out again. Babies usually love this.
4. Another thing children like is when you are holding them; lift them up and down above your head. This is great for your shoulders and back.
5. Dance with them.
6. Play sports with them.
7. Do jumping jacks, jump rope, hop on one foot, etc.
8. Run in place or around the house.
9. Join a gym; enroll in gymnastics or dance class, or take swimming lessons together.
10. Do yard work together.
11. Shovel together.
12. If you have a child in a stroller do stroller aerobics. It is really easy to do and you can do it right in the house. Have your child in the stroller and just do different moves by holding onto the stroller. Like walking forward and backward. Squats, lunges, hamstring curls, and leg lifts. Sometimes video stores even have tapes you can rent.
13. Take a walk with your child. Walk or jog with your child in the stroller. Raise your knees high and your heels back to your butt.
Tip 3 – For those parents who need their own time:
1. Just because you need time away from the children does not make you a bad parent. Everyone needs time to regroup and have time for themselves.
2. Exercising can be a great healer for stress and distractions.
3. Here at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA you can put your children in our childcare
while you are working out! It is a great way for you to exercise and have your children in the same building you are at the same time.
It can also give them the time to interact with new children.
These are just a few tips to help parents find times to incorporate exercise into their busy lives! You can do your exercise all at once or split into different 10-minute increments.
Exercise and proper nutrition are very important components for healthy lives.
Thought of the week
You are the only person who can take charge of your life.
Do not forget to sign up for our new cheerleading class and additional preschool days.