Thank goodness summer is here! Warm summer mornings are the perfect time to get outside and move those limbs. It’s also an ideal time to reconnect with friends and family. Not only is staying active together a healthy choice, but there could be an added mental health benefit by spending time with people you care about.
Here are a few suggestions to help you have a summer full of fun activity:
- Work on your green thumb. Now’s the perfect time to maintain and enjoy a vegetable garden. Weeding and pruning are excellent exercise.
- Get Organized. It can be hard to garden when you can’t find your tools. Reorganize your shed and sweep out the garage.
- Make it fun. Outdoor time shouldn’t all be work, of course. Grab the family or some friends and pick a park for a walk or game of catch before the sun goes down. Explore one of your community’s beautiful green spaces.
- Find new opportunities. Check community boards and neighborhood gyms for outdoor classes in yoga, tai chi or “boot camp.” Spread your toes in the grass!
- Enter a race. Sign up for run/walk and your child can do some daily jogs to train for the big race. Most races offer kids 1-mile distances; older kids who show an affinity can enter 5K races with some prep and planning. And they'll usually get a medal and T-shirt after crossing the finish line.
- Go exploring. On weekends, visit places such as museums, aquariums or botanical gardens that involve a lot of standing and walking to see the sights. Or go for a healthy hike.
Involve the whole family!
- Perk up playdates. The next time your child's bestie comes over, hide the video game controllers and take the kids to the local park instead.
- Make a movie, don't watch one. Harness your child's creative talents and let them make a film, which is easier to do than ever thanks to technology. Be sure there are plenty of action scenes.
- Just keep swimming. Whether it's in your backyard, at the gym or your community clubhouse, a swimming pool is a great place for kids to be active--younger kids can splash around and older kids can master their strokes. And it's a sport they can participate in throughout their lives. Just make sure they know these swimming skills before diving in.
If you’re feeling a bit out of shape or have other health concerns, be sure to talk to your primary care provider before venturing too far from home.
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