The Freeman

5 Fun Exercises for the Whole Family

- “Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” – Luke 11:28 By Alexandra Vergara, USJR BA Communicat­ion Intern Doing gardening. Caring for a pet. Holding a weekly family sports event.

Today’s The Day

One Year Mini Daily Inspiratio­n

Nowadays, little children – including toddlers and pre-schoolers – spend most of their time in front of the television or absorbed with gadgets, thus preventing them from doing and enjoying physical activities that would be good for their health, their heart, muscles and lungs. In an article at www.parents.com, parenting mentor Aviva Patz writes that working out does not have to mean running laps or lifting weights but leading an active lifestyle. Even after a hectic day at work, parents can still get fit with their kids, to avoid letting the little ones grow in a sedentary lifestyle.

Taking night walks.

Short walks together before or after dinner not only allow parents to get some quality time with their kids, but it is also good for everyone’s health. It does not have to be brisk; casual walk will do. Also, walking with the kids to and from the nearby grocery store or just strolling around the neighborho­od is a fun way to get both parents and their kids moving.

Dancing the house chores away.

Music is one of the ways to cheer up the vibe inside the home. Putting on some danceable tune while doing house chores is a fun and healthier way to go. Not only does it distract the mind from the effort, it also heightens the physical exercise. And, well, it will all seem like fun to the kids. It will be such a good a good family time.

Kids naturally like digging up dirt; to them, it’s a different kind of play. Parents can make this can use this natural tendency of kids to help out in growing plants in the backyard. According to www.parents.com, weight lifting and gardening bring the same benefits in fighting osteoporos­is; that’s certainly good for parents. As for the kids, gardening allows them to play, to exercise and to help raise vegetables and flowers for the home.

Children just love pets, and parents may use this fondness with animals to teach the kids a sense of responsibi­lity and, at the same time, prompt the little ones to do physical activity. The kids want to look after the needs of their pet. And playing with the pet is in itself a fun physical activity for the kids as well. And the activity doesn’t have to be exclusive between the pet and the kids – mom and dad may join in the fun too!

Another article at www.parents.com cites that having pets actually decreases a child’s risk for developing allergies. It can also strengthen their immune system.

A sports event does not have to be really a big deal requiring profession­al athletes. The family can have its own sports tourney of “Patentero,” “Bato Lata,” “Dakpanay” and other native games. It’s a way for parents to relive physical activities they had in their own childhood and a chance for the kids to try the games their parents enjoyed. The whole family will have fun together.

Parents have the challenge to think up ingenuous ways to keep the kids from growing up in a sedentary lifestyle. Other than good physical conditioni­ng, the family that devotes a time for sweating it out together will be closer to one another.

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(www.mydailythr­ead.com)
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Scottish writer Robert
Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh. Forbidden to write by his father, he studied law, frequentin­g low haunts on the side and consorting with prostitute­s. Using the experience in combinatio­n with the true- ?? ─ from
─ from ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (httpsmedia.poetryfoun­dation.org)
by Jeremy Beadle (Signet)
(OMF Literature Inc.)
• In 1850, consumptiv­e Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson was born in Edinburgh. Forbidden to write by his father, he studied law, frequentin­g low haunts on the side and consorting with prostitute­s. Using the experience in combinatio­n with the true- ─ from ─ from ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON (httpsmedia.poetryfoun­dation.org) by Jeremy Beadle (Signet) (OMF Literature Inc.)

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