Exercising with Children
November 28, 2016They are Always Watching!
“Children are always watching,” people would tell me and boy, are they ever. It is amazing what they remember – whether you want them to or not! When I was able to start exercising again after having my daughter in 2013, I would place her in the good ol’ Rock N’ Play and exercise in my living room. At that point, I knew that she had no idea what I was doing, but once she reached 6 months or so, I could tell that she was interested. Fast forward 2.5 years later and she loves to “exercise” with me.
So, what can I do with small children, you ask? Lots of things! Stroller walks are always a great way for mom/caretaker and baby to get fresh air/vitamin D and get that heart rate up. Can’t get outside? No problem. Use what you have in your home to create a safe exercising environment. I recently posted about in-home equipment I use to help get a good workout in.
Sometimes children are fussy and/or don’t want to sit still. That’s okay, it will happen. Make the workout a game by using numbers or, use your child as the resistance. Have you ever tried squatting with a 20 plus pound baby? Feel. The. Burn. Holding your kiddo close may be what he/she wanted! It is perfectly fine to get a workout in alone as well! Explaining to the child that you are going to exercise (don’t forget to look happy and smile!) will again, show him or her that fitness is an important part of life.
Smiling, singing and including the baby or small child go a long way. Show them that you are having fun. If they see you enjoying exercise over and over again, they will see that activity in a positive light and they could most likely carry that throughout life. So, the next time you roll out of bed and lace up your sneakers, smile. You just never know who is watching!