When summer comes to an end, it’s easy to get into an indoor, inactive rut. Kids need to be active to stay healthy! For our family, that means organized sports. This fall season our girls are playing soccer and our son is playing football. Both sports practice and play despite our rainy Pacific Northwest weather. Teams rely on their teammates so it keeps us committed.
My kids are motivated by “treats”. They always look forward to game days, especially when it’s our turn to bring snack. They usually choose to bring CLIF Kid Zbars® and fruit to share with the team. These bars are the perfect portion size for kids and they’re made with Non- GMO organic ingredients. They don’t contain high fructose syrup or artificial flavors.
What they do contain is nutrients that active kids need with flavors they love to help fuel their play. They’re perfect for growing kids and busy parents before or after sports!
Even if your kids aren’t involved in organized sports, playtime and being active is important! There are lots of fun ways to keep your kids moving. Look for things to do within your community. We signed our kids up for “The Great Pumpkin Run”. It was a race just for kids — the entry fee was a canned food donation to support the local food bank. Our kids had never run a race like this before but they loved it so much that we’re keeping our eye out for other local fun runs to participate in!
Another great activity for fall is swimming! Look for family swim or open swim times at your local YMCA or community pool. Show your kids how much FUN exercise and staying active can be! Speaking of fun, trampoline centers are super fun and great for active playtime. Both of these activities usually come with a fee but I do have a few ideas up my sleeve for FREE:
- Get the Wiggles Out — Turn on some music and have a dance party or play “freeze dance”. Randomly stop the music and have the kids freeze in whatever position they are in when the music stops.
- Give them a Workout Checklist — jot down a handful of exercises or have them make up their own. Examples: bunny hops, windmills, jumping jacks, run in place, skip in a circle, sit ups, hop on one foot etc.
- Free Kids Workout Videos — my kids love kids yoga. You should be able to find some free kids workout videos online. These are perfect to keep them occupied while you make dinner in the evenings!
- Old Fashioned Playtime — if the weather is tolerable, give them free time in the yard or take them to a nearby place of play.
Playtime is important for kid’s growth all year long, and shouldn’t be pushed to the side during the school year. Make it a priority and help your kids form healthy life-long habits.
Watch this nostalgic CLIF Kid video for a great reminder on getting back to the basics of outdoor play. What is your favorite memory from your childhood play time?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.