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In some ways, exercising was a lot easier when the kids were infants. First, they weighed a lot less. Second, they napped a lot more. Rides in the baby jogger would lull them to sleep. They also didn’t fuss too much – we gave them snacks and toys and they were content to hang out inside the Chariot, a baby jogger that also can be converted into a bike trailer and cross-country ski pull. (Spokesman-Review outdoors writer and editor, Rich Landers, recently wrote this article about the Chariot and other child buggies, which have enabled many families to continue their outdoor pursuits. That’s my daughter in one of the photos, by the way, and my husband’s knee.)
But things are quickly changing for us. My 5-year-old refuses to sit in the Chariot these days. He wants to run, ski and ride his own bike instead of being hauled around. Of course he has always been mobile, but after half an hour or so, he was content to get a ride right next to his little sister. Nowadays, he’s just way too independent. It’s been great to watch him ski on his own and ride a bike without training wheels, but at the same time, it’s been harder than ever to get any exercise for myself. Sometimes, getting the kids out and about has become so much work that I’ve resorted to taking turns with my husband and leaving the kids at home instead of exercising as a family.
Experts, however, caution against not including your
children in your workouts. Of course you shouldn’t have to push your toddler in
a baby jogger for hours if you’re training for a big race, but they should also
get the benefit of being outdoors and exercising with their parents, some say.
“This is such a teaching time,” Heidi Hill, author of “Fit Family: The Infant, Toddler and Preschool Years” told the Miami Herald. Parents who are patient enough to include their children in their own sports and workouts become good role models, she said.
Her book is a guide for parents who want to hike, bike, run, cross-country ski and kayak with small children. In the Miami Herald article, she emphasized the need for parents to “persevere through these early years because as the kids get older and more self-sufficient, exercising as a family becomes more rewarding.”
Often, it takes good equipment – the Chariot, for instance, or a sturdy backpack. But most of all, it requires an attitude adjustment. ”It’s just knowing that some days aren’t going to be great, but we’re going to put a positive spin on it,” Hill told the Miami Herald. ”I think people tend to find a lot of excuses — too busy, too much money, the kids are crying. You just really have to educate yourself, and do it.”
Parents with older kids often tell me this: Before long, the kids will be on their own. And they’ll be running, biking and
skiing even faster than their parents.
How have you adapted your exercise routines and workouts to fit your kids? What are some of the things that you do at home to encourage your children to stay active and healthy?
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riesaliciab on May 18 at 7:22 a.m.
We have had the same difficulty with our Chariot routines! Now my 5 year old wants to bike along with me while I push my 3 year old in our single Bob stroller. This kind-of works but I can’t run or go long distances; we just quickly walk to the park in our neighborhood. Then I have to wait until my husband gets home or hire a babysitter or go to the YMCA to exercise. My exercise routines are definitely not as centered around my needs anymore, but I figure that it will only get easier as the kids get older.
mjgriffin on May 19 at 1:33 p.m.
Maybe you should try an activity that the whole family can do together. Children need to have fun exercising in order for them to continue it throughout adulthood. If you are interested in a product that kids and adults can enjoy at the same time, you may want to check out a new product called the Railyard Conditioning Course. It is an exercise program that can be done on or off an obstacle course, in the park on benches and steps, or even just on the ground. It develops strength, balance, coordination, agility, flexibility, and improves cardiovascular health and posture. For more information, please go to www.railyardfitness.com. Receive a free 78-page manual outlining the program just for signing up for the monthly newsletter. Thank you, MJ
meganc on May 19 at 2:18 p.m.
Does dropping my kids off at the Oz Fitness Kid Zone count as including them in my exercise routine? Probably not, huh?
How about going to a track at a nearby high school (after hours)? That way everyone can run/play/skip at their own pace, but you can keep an eye on the whole family at once. I’ve never actually done this, but I’m getting to the point where I might try it.
virginiad on May 19 at 7:45 p.m.
Hi Megan! That’s a fantastic idea! You know who did that? Sylvia Quinn, former Bloomsday race director and super runner. She’s in her early 70s and can still finish Bloomsday in under an hour. She told me in an interview once that when her girls were young, she would let them play at the track while she ran around them. Obviously, it worked for her… I hope you are well!
piah on May 20 at 5:11 p.m.
I have fond memories of riding my bike along side my dad, when I was 10-12 years old and he was training for marathons. I didn’t go the whole distance he ran - but looped back home, when I got tired. Or sometimes I got off my bike and ran a short loop with him, before getting back on the bike and riding home.
When I ran more frequently and my son was little, I took him to a track with me a couple of times - we even brought his push tractor along. It kind’a worked out for us. Sometimes there were other kids there and they played.
And I agree with the positive spin: even if you don’t get to set a personal best track record, you did go, you did run, and you were a good example to your kids.
meganc on May 24 at 5:29 a.m.
Hey! There may be hope for me yet! Bloomsday in under an hour, huh? I’m literally half her age and I can’t do that. That’s it. We’re heading to the track tonight!
Virginia—this is off topic a bit, but I thought you guys might find this article (and the comments that follow) interesting:
http://www.businessweek.com/careers/workingparents/blog/archives/2009/04/how_mac_n_chees.html