Do you want to spend more time as a family and also get in shape this year? Then family workouts are the best New Year’s Resolution!
The concept is simple: exercise together as a family. But this is anything but boring. Family workouts from Mom Fabulous include video games, handstands, gymnastics, and hide-and-go-seek.
Are you ready? Does your family accept the challenge? Let’s jump in—literally!
Family Workout 1: Active video games
When you think of video games, you probably think of sedentary children with their eyeballs glued to a screen. Let’s reinvent the definition of a family video game night.
First, pick an interactive video game like Wii Fit, Just Dance, or Dance Dance Revolution.
Then, let your kids each pick their favorite game. Except there has to be a fitness component. For example, the player who lost the Mario Kart race has to do a 30 jumping jacks.
Not a video game family? The same rules apply to board games or card games!
Family Workout 2: Dance parties
Impromptu dance parties are the memories of childhood. Transform your living room into a dance floor. Create a playlist of your kids favorite tunes and dance around like crazy for 15 minutes. (Don’t pause for a water break after 10 minutes. You can do 15 minutes of cardio!)
Or, find an instructional YouTube video for new variety of dance. Watch the lesson as a family, then practice for 15 minutes. Try Hawaiian hula dancing, a zumba class to “I like to move it move it” (from the Madagascar movie),” a fun full body workout, karate kicks, African dancing, a family cardio session, or hip hop dance moves.
Family Workout 3: Handstand challenge
Yep, you read that correctly. Learn how to do a handstand with this handy tutorial, then challenge your family an official handstand challenge. Some kids are gifted with the ability to balance like an ant on a wire, while others struggle to remain upright when standing on one foot.
Once you master the handstand challenge, progress to the cartwheel, splits, plank, or backbend challenge. If your family succeeds in all of those areas, create your own! (Note: please ensure that you and your children do not attempt tricks that should only be performed with professional coaching in a properly outfitted gym, such as back handsprings or backward flips.)
Family Workout 4: Gymnastics at the park
The playground is a fitness wonderland! See how many workouts your family can do at the local part. Once you master exercises at that park, travel to another one and see if you can create new fitness activities there!
Here are a few ideas to help get you started:
- Leg lifts on the swings.
- Walk along the balance beam.
- Jump over small walls (less than 1 foot high)
- Pirouette on a bench or climbing pad.
- Complete the monkey bars.
- Climb to the top of the rope wall.
- Run up and down the stairs.
- Do wall push-ups against the slide.
Family Workout 5: Classic childhood games
Old fashioned games are classic for a reason: they never go out of style!
- Play a round of tag with your kids. Pretend that the ground is lava for an extra challenge.
- Bring back TV tag (shout the name of a television show or movie right before you get tagged to gain immunity from the imminent tag).
- Play sardines (the opposite of hide-and-go-seek), where one player hides and everyone seeks. If someone finds the hider, they hide with them, until everyone has found the hider.
- Enter into an epic game of hide-and-go-seek.
- Capture the flag is loads of fun.
- Get into a game of backyard baseball or kickball.
- Play hopscotch or jump rope.
- Draw a “city” with roads and buildings on your driveway using chalk. Drive scooters or bikes through the “town.”
Family Workout 6: Go hiking
Find a hiking trail and get outside with your kids. For their imaginative minds, hiking is more than a walk through the woods. It’s an opportunity to see wildlife, notice unique plants, walkthrough mini streams, and be immersed in nature. Many local parks have easy, short trails that are perfect for children. Ask your local park ranger for advice.
Family fitness goals
Set specific and measurable goals with your kids, like doing a family fitness activity together once per week for at least 30 minutes. Try out one of these ideas and share your feedback in the comments below. Have more ideas? Comment those too so we can grow our collection of family workout ideas!
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