Stuck at home with kids during the Covid-19 pandemic? Here’s some ideas on how to maintain your fitness and sanity while staying socially distant.
Biking
A great way to get your heart pumping is to jump on the bike with your kids. Besides the obvious benefit of getting some fresh air without worrying about being too close to others, biking increases cardiovascular health, strength and flexibility, and joint mobility. If you’re looking for a local spot to ride, TrailLink has some suggestions on where you can take your kids for an afternoon of fresh air.
Dance Party
Even if you don’t regularly hit the dance floor, dancing at home with your family has many benefits. It’s a great way to loosen up your body after sitting at your home office. When you’re in the comfort of your own home, you can let go of your inhibitions. Make it fun and be as goofy as you want. For some extra embarrassment here is a list of fad dances to teach your children. Acting silly with your kids is a great opportunity to connect with them and provides an outlet to relieve stress. The extra movement will also tire out the little ones, giving you a chance to really relax!
Animal Movement
Collaborate with your kids to see how many animal movements you can create. It’s a fun way to challenge both your mind and body. These exercises are a great way to work in some strength, balance and flexibility. A few examples are bear crawl, inch worm, frog jumps. Get creative! Here’s a video of 50 animal movements to try.
Obstacle Course
We’ve all, at one point, have heard or played the game where the floor is lava. This game is good for more than just messing up a room and the furniture in it. Keep your kids occupied by having them create an obstacle course that involves hopping, jumping, crawling or running. You can join in and test your agility. Challenging your body with irregular movements can help form new muscle and show you what areas you may need to work on.
Make It a Contest
Bring a level of good-natured competition by creating a contest that tests your physical capabilities. There are many exercises that can be done at home or in smaller spaces that will challenge your strength and endurance. This is also a great way to get a short HIIT session into your day. Set a timer and see who can do the most of any given exercise. Try best two out of three burpees, push-ups, step-ups or air squats. Be sure to stretch before starting to help prevent muscle fatigue, injury, and soreness.
If you have more ideas than the ones above, be sure to drop us a line; or if you have activity level or physical therapy questions, SetPT would love to hear from you.
