Modern-day parents juggle countless tasks every day, from extracurricular activities to housekeeping to their own jobs.
With so many moving parts, it’s easy to let some things fall to the wayside. Luckily, there is a simple solution to ensure one’s family is getting both the healthy lifestyle and quality time it deserves: family workouts.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, since the 1970s, the percentage of children with obesity in the U.S. has more than tripled. That may be due to the increased prevalence of television and computers, and families often find themselves passing time on the couch instead of outside. Now more than ever, it’s imperative to remember to get up and move.
Besides enabling a sedentary lifestyle, screens do not encourage familial interaction. An article published in the Journal of Marriage and Family considers family time “a critical barometer of optimal parenting.” Like the CDC, the article expresses concern with the media’s influence on development in children. It encourages parents to initiate time spent engaging with their children.
Full-family exercises are a simple solution and surprisingly easy to incorporate into your family’s life. All it takes is a drive way or a nearby park, a small chunk of time, and your own body weight to complete a full-body workout appropriate for everyone in the family.
Isabelle Brown is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at adeperro@cityscenemediagroup.com.
