10 Fun Ways to Ramp Up Your Family’s Physical Activity and Fitness This Summer
July 12, 2023Summer is a perfect season to get more active with your family. Not only is exercise a fun way to spend time together, but it can also help improve your family’s overall health and fitness. With the prevalence of obesity in our society, building healthy habits around movement can motivate the whole family to incorporate more physical activity into your daily schedules. As adults, leading by example can help your kids learn that exercise can be fun, and not a chore. Finding fun, creative activities can be the key for your family’s physical activity and fitness this summer making family memories and building new habits that can bring many physical and mental health benefits!
10 Fun Ways to Ramp Up Your Family’s Physical Activity and Fitness This Summer
1.
Go for a walk or hike.
Get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying the great outdoors. Explore State or National Parks near you or find a local trail or park nearby. Start off small and build your endurance for longer hikes! Remember that your steps count at theme parks, zoos, and other family-focused outdoor attractions too.
2.
Go swimming.
Swimming is a great way to cool off on a hot summer day and get some exercise at the same time. If you don’t have a pool, look for a community pool in your area, or visit a local lake or the beach if you have one nearby. Add in some water games, such as volleyball, water polo, or water basketball for some added calorie burn.
3.
Play sports.
Get outside with your family for some sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, kickball, baseball, or tennis. Check out facilities at your local park or recreation center where you can play, or just play in your backyard.
4.
Go biking.
Biking is a great way to get some exercise and explore your community. Find bike trails or green belts to explore, or just ride around your neighborhood. Remember to bike safely: wear a helmet and follow your local traffic laws.
5.
Go to a water park.
Beat the heat and have fun on waterslides, run through fountains, and splash your way fit! Some water parks even have stand up paddle boards to rent, which gives you a great total body workout.
6.
Have a dance party.
Dancing is a great way to get your heart rate up, move around, and have some fun. Bring a portable speaker outside in your yard, or if it’s too hot out, just put on some music and dance around your living room.
7.
Play frisbee catch, tag, red light/green light, or hide-and-seek.
These are classic childhood games that are still fun for all ages. They're a great way to get some exercise and have some laughs. You'll definitely want to add them to your summer fitness list!
8.
Play Pickleball.
Pickleball is the new rage for both kids and adults. Look for pickleball at your local recreation center or get your own equipment to play in your driveway or neighborhood park. Pickleball gives you a great aerobic workout without too much stress on your body, and it’s a definite mood booster!
9.
Start a Garden!
Summertime is a great time to get down and dirty in the garden. Go to a local nursery to get some flowers, fruits or vegetables that are already on their way, or pick up some seed packets and grow your own. There are plants that can be grown in the summer, or you can start some seeds for a winter vegetable garden. Check with your nursery for plants that will do well in your area and teach your kids about growing their own food! Playing in the dirt is fun, and weeding and watering throughout the season is a great way to stay active and get some fresh air outdoors.
10.
Volunteer for a fitness event.
There are many different fitness events that you can volunteer for, such as 5K races, marathons, or triathlons. This is a great way to get some exercise, give back to your community, meet new people, and have some fun.
These are just a few ideas for ways to boost your physical activity with your family for fitness this summer. Remember to always bring water with you and stay hydrated. Shoot for a minimum of 64 ounces of water a day. Drinking water is the best way to stay hydrated, but if you are struggling to get this in, you can count decaffeinated or herbal teas and other zero-calorie drinks like Crystal Light, or use other flavor enhancers like lemon, ginger, cucumber, basil, mint, or your favorite herbal infusion. Go ahead -- get fancy. Don’t forget the sunscreen too!
Sit down with your family to plan out some ways to get off the couch this summer. Get creative and have fun!
Editor's Note: Join Marilyn at our 2023 ObesityHelp National Conference in Costa Mesa, CA on September 15th and 16th! Her session, Revitalize & Empower: Unleashing Your True Fitness Potential, will start on Saturday at 7am! Her light fitness session will leave you feeling empowered and revitalized.
Marilyn Clark is a certified Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach and runs her website Off The Plate
 | ABOUT THE AUTHOR Marilyn Clark is a certified Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach, a certified personal trainer, radical self-care advocate, an obesity survivor, a bariatric patient, and runs her website Off The Plate. She is a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, a Level 1 Precision pro certified in Sports & Exercise Nutrition, & a personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer program! Read more articles by Marilyn! |
