Being active is child’s play

Parents hoping to get healthy worry about fitting new routines in around their kids – so make them part of it by doing fun activities the whole family can get involved in

One of the biggest hurdles parents face in starting and maintaining a fitness regime is childcare. If you have young kids, it is difficult to commit to a regular routine of gym classes or exercise, because who looks after the kids? Add to that a full day’s work and running around after the little ones, and by the time your treasures are in bed you may struggle to find the energy or motivation to start a workout. One way around this problem is getting the kids to join in.

Not only will you be getting your exercise, it gives the kids a healthy start in life and instils in them a love of keeping fit.

On top of that, you will be spending quality time as a family and hopefully having a lot of fun. So, here are some great ways you can get the whole family involved in fitness...

DANCE FOR JOY

Dance is a great form of exercise – not only is it good for physical health but it also boosts mental wellbeing.

Pre-school dance teacher Anne-Marie Martin, of diddidance.com, says: “Dancing at home with your family is great because there’s no judgment. You can let loose and make it so much fun. You don’t have to follow any set routines or exercises, just gather a playlist of your family’s favourite tunes, make some space and get moving!

“Not only will you be increasing your fitness if done regularly but you’ll be all lifting your mood and spending great quality time in a fun and informal way.”

Anne-Marie’s top tip is to start off with some slower songs and smaller moves to warm the body up before the high-energy tunes kick in, where you can really let loose.

Then end your routine with a slow song again to help cool the body down – and have a nice cuddle.