- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- iparenting fitness articles
- iparenting fitness q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Family Fitness
Build Strong Bodies and Strengthen Relationships
By Charlene Torkelson
Community pools and health clubs often schedule family swim times. This is great for the whole family to get out and swim each week together. There are also family nights at roller rinks and ice arenas. Find out when these are scheduled and make a weekly activity a special time for family fun.
Julie Francis, a homeschooler from Shakopee, Minn., had a skating instructor come out to their pond for weekly family lessons. Their family, along with the neighborhood families, had begun weekend pick-up hockey games. Francis says that it was "great because we were all together learning at the same level – adult and child alike." After a lesson on one portion of the pond, they would head over to the other side for a game of hockey.
Many families enjoy taking lessons together. Martial arts programs often include classes for the entire family. Not only are there times combining all ages and all levels, but there are also many types of martial arts to choose from – from karate to Taekwondo to judo to the stretch of yoga.
Shinya and Marcy McHenry have a dancing family. The couple owns The Dancers Studio, a ballroom studio in St. Paul, Minn. Their three sons – ages 12, 10 and 8 – not only dance along with their parents, but also demonstrate dances and sometimes compete. The boys also participate in other sports such as gymnastics and baseball, but dancing has been in the program for this family since the boys were very young.
Vacations are great times to enjoy a fitness activity in which the whole family can participate. The Nold family of Apple Valley, Minn., included water skiing in their summer vacation this year. "The second day, I felt a little sore, but it was great fun," says Donna Nold. Kids Brian, Laura, Alyssa and Kim thought it was "awesome." They spent the day tubing, wave boarding, swimming and even rented a water trampoline.
