IN GOOD ELF
pilgrimage on foot to see them up close with the kids.
Or, perhaps challenge your friends and family to get a picture outside the brightest display in your area and send pictures to each other.
The only rule is, no driving allowed. Walk, jog, run, scooter – whatever you fancy, just no car.
Whatever method you choose, to get the most out of the idea you should walk quickly enough to feel warmer and feel your breath getting a little shorter.
Of course, if you want to up the ante, you could all run around the streets together to see how many decorated houses you can find. Make it more fun by encouraging the kids to count how many snowmen, Santas, elves and reindeer they see along the way. bending and twisting to arrange the perfect den. It won’t seem like exercise to the little ones, but it is actually giving them a whole-body workout.
Anything that makes you work harder than usual will increase and develop your muscles, which is important for us no matter what our age. For kids it helps them grow into strong and healthy adults and protects them against injury, and for adults it helps prevent our muscles weakening, reducing the chances of falling and losing our balance as we get older.
An alternative is to get the kids to mark out a reindeer runway. Use anything you can find to build a landing strip and guide Santa and his reindeer into place.
Again, this will involve some of that all-important lifting and carrying, as well as enjoying some healthy outdoor fun.
SOCIAL dancing may be off the cards this year, but there’s no reason why you and the kids can’t have a party of your own. This is a great way to get active and burn some energy. Get into the spirit by turning all the lights off and just leaving the Christmas tree lights and decorations twinkling, or go one step better and get some glow sticks and disco lights! If the kids need a little more impetus to get involved why not play musical statues or let them choose the music. Bringing the party atmosphere home will lift everyone’s spirits and give you a great full body work out – what’s not to love?
OVERINDULGING a little at Christmas is inevitable. Let’s face it, we’re all looking forward to the usual roast dinners, Advent treats, sweets and well-deserved tipples (for the grown-ups!).
What’s not inevitable though is inactivity. We can all make sure we move a little more during the holidays. So why not incorporate a few of these little ideas into your line-up.
As well as getting you all in the Christmas spirit, they will also boost your activity levels without you even noticing, helping us all to stay fitter and healthier over the festive break.