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Parenting & Education in Ireland

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Parenting & Education

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Getting fit with the kids



As a parent with young kids, it can be really tough to get out the door and get exercising. Setting time aside to get to the gym or get out for a run can be almost impossible, leaving you feeling sluggish, tired and fed up. With obesity levels on the rise in Ireland, in both the young and old, keeping the whole family fit and healthy should be of primary concern. There has been no better time to get out the door and get exercising, and what better way to do it than with the kids!

Get the whole family involved in fun activities with these helpful tips:

    • Ditch the car - Make an effort to get the family walking and cycling to and from your destinations. If you’re going to the shops or heading out for dinner, ditch the car and walk there instead. If you live close to school, get the kids walking there as often as you can. A burst of exercise is a great way to start the day and will set the family up for a much more productive day ahead.

    • Get muddy - Get the kids into the garden. Young kids love getting their hands messy and will love playing with you in the mud. Get them interested in gardening, allowing them to pick plants and pot them themselves. You could even try growing some veggies as a bonus - getting them more interested in what they eat while getting active while they’re at it! Sweeping, lifting and digging in the garden will be great exercise for both you and the kids.

    • Take up a sport - Take up a sport and play it as a family. Tennis and martial arts are great options for whole families to take up together. Playing and practicing a sport will be great fun for all the family and a brilliant opportunity to spend time together.

    • Make play time more active - Play games with the kids that involve movement. Hop scotch, tag, skipping and hide and seek are great to get you and the little ones moving.

    • Keep it fun and varied - Mix up the activities you do. Get the kids to try out new things so as to build up different skills while allowing them to figure out what they like best. Plus, you will be more likely to enjoy getting active if you’re not doing the same activities all the time.

    • Take turns choosing the activity - Let the kids take turns choosing the activities you do, whether thats a trip to the park, a hike with a picnic or an evening out on the scooters, allow each family member to make the choice from time to time.

    • Even the little things will make a difference - Remember that getting fit and healthy is a lifestyle choice, and every little thing you do will make a difference. Take the stairs instead of the lift next time you're out shopping with the kids. (It may even help you feel less guilty about the little presents you have bought yourselves!)

    • Video games aren’t all bad - While all mums and dads strive to get the kids off the video games, they aren’t necessarily all that bad. There is now a great variety of Wii games available that will get you all sweating from the comfort of your living room. While we never thought we’d say this - get the tv turned on and feel your heart racing!

Apart from relieving stress and improving your mood, by taking part in some of these activities with your kids, you will hopefully inspire them to lead an active lifestyle into the future.


If you are looking to get your kids even more active, have a look at our list of after school activities available throughout the county.


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