We all know physical activity is important. It’s recommended that adults get 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity exercise a week. But before you panic, remember, this can be done in 10-minute intervals. One way to make it easier is by not doing it alone. Getting active with your grandchildren can be a fun way to improve your health while also taking advantage of a beneficial bonding opportunity.
Not sure where to begin? We have some easy ideas to try the next time you are with the kids in your life.
Don’t overthink being active
When it comes to getting active with the grandkids, start by keeping it simple for everyone, regardless of age. Going for a walk or a bike ride together, taking younger kids to the park or walking the family pet are all easy ways to get everyone moving. These kinds of activities are also great opportunities for conversation and focused interaction.
Sometimes it’s more convenient to incorporate an activity into your existing plans. If you are helping with school pick up and live nearby, consider walking instead of driving. This not only offers the benefit of physical activity, but can potentially help your grandchild with their learning, too.
Find something you all enjoy
Do you love to play racquet sports? Ask your preteen or teen grandchild to join you. Love to swim? Find out about family swim time at your local pool, or plan a trip to the beach. My dad loved to play ping pong. He had a table in the basement and as our kids grew up, they learned to play. Over the years, it was a source of fun competition and light-hearted banter. Dad never let them win and the kids loved any opportunity to come away with the bragging rights. Developing a shared interest in a physical activity allowed them to spend focused time together and build a completely new and special aspect to their relationship.
Get creative, get moving
Maybe now is the time to try something new together. Have you been thinking about playing pickleball? Try it with an older grandchild. Stuck inside and want to keep the toddler busy? Make a mini obstacle course or play a game of hide and seek. You can have a favourite stuffed animal do all the hiding and then follow your grandchild as they march all over the house looking for it! Another idea is to create a dance party and cue up your favourite songs! As a bonus, you can take the opportunity to share your music with them.
Turn on the TV
Before we all shake our fists at the sky about how video games are ruining lives, let’s remember that there are some healthy ways to incorporate technology into our time with kids. And if you take it one step further, you can work up a bit of a sweat playing games like Nintendo Wii Sports (bowling was my dad’s favourite). Again, this is a really easy way to connect with your little ones while having fun and sneaking in a bit of physical activity.
