Is it possible to exercise with little kids?

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?