4 ways to keep the family active at home

Keeping the kids active at home has so many benefits, it not only keeps them physically healthy, but it’s a great way to improve behavior, mental focus and ensure they get a good nights sleep.

Incorporating just a few changes to your daily schedule can make all the difference, here are a few ideas to stay active as a family at home…

Active in Your Back Garden

Grab some badminton rackets, football or even a skipping rope and go out to play! If you can’t muster up a partner or a small team then play keepie-uppie or wall ball on your own for 30 minutes. What’s important here is you just keep moving, if your heart rate is raised and you’re out in the fresh air it’s doing you good and doesn’t require any expensive equipment or a gym membership.

Active Yoga at Home

Yoga has many benefits for all ages, it keeps you agile, flexible and mentally focused using gentle movements, and these can all be done in the comfort of your own home, without any special equipment. Yoga involves a range of poses from simple beginner right up to more advanced practices and can ease muscle tightness, open up your chest for easier breathing and is a great way to prepare your body for a more active life. Easy to follow beginner yoga practices for kids can be found on YouTube or by googling yoga for beginners.

DIY Indoor Obstacle course

Setting up an obstacle course in your living room or around the house can be a great way to keep the kids active and entertained when it’s raining. Choose 5-10 activities such as chair steps ups, setting out a cushion trail, skipping, hula hoop, up and down the stairs or lining the dining table chairs as a tunnel to crawl through – basically anything that will tire them out. We’ve added some more ideas to a Pinterest board here.

Go on a nature walk

Go on a nature with the kids, they’ll learn something, you all have a great time and you’ll be surprised when you realise how many miles you’ve covered. Be mindful of what’s around you and plan a route close to home to get those extra steps in.

If leaving the house isn’t possible, take a nature walk around your back garden, plan a scavenger hunt and teach the kids about different types of insects or leaves.

These suggestions will be easier to do over time and adding them to your routines will become second nature. If you get to spend more time with your family and save money to boot, then looking great, feeling fit and being more active is just the bonus!