Keeping the Kids Active on Vacation

Posted on: January 20th, 2012 by paul

Childhood obesity is on the rise in North America. In Canada, childhood obesity has tripled over the past three decades. On average, 7% of young people attain the recommended level of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. These soaring numbers, along with the increasing waistlines of our children, present a major problem when it comes to the health of our future. We have to start teaching our children to be active and remain active, whether they are at home, at school, or on vacation.

A vacation can provide the perfect time to get your kids interested in activity. After all, what better place than on a beach, in crystal blue water, or exploring the town and culture of a place that is incredibly new and foreign to them?

Here are some ways to keep your kids moving while you are on a family vacation.

Morning Routine:
Each morning, before or just after breakfast, think of a fun and exciting activity that you can do as a family that involves activity. Some ideas might be to walk the shoreline to find unique sea shells, go for an early morning swim in the pool or the ocean, hike a new trail, rent mountain bikes and escape for an hour or two, or do a morning beach exercise routine as a family.

Morning routines are a great way to start the day and stimulate endorphin release (which elevates mood, relieves stress, and modulate appetite).

New Adventures / Excursions Each Day
Plan to do something new each day that will keep your family stimulated and happy. Generally, on vacations, there are many available excursions and opportunities to get off of your resort and explore the location you are in. Some great ideas are full day bike excursions, deep sea fishing, sea kayak rentals, beach volleyball, boogie-boarding, snorkeling, and the list goes on and on.

There are an endless amount of activities to do while on vacation with your family. So, be creative and keep your kids busy exploring new things and getting active. A vacation to a new location is the perfect place to capture your children’s interest and get them excited about exercise.

Gillian Johnson BA, CSCS

 


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