Bring On the Fun - 10 Healthy and Wellness Activities for Energetic Families

The role of parents has evolved significantly in the landscape of modern family life, with more parents working than ever before. The Pew Research Center explains that the share of stay-at-home parents has experienced fluctuations over the years, with only 18% of parents not working for pay by 2021. This shifting paradigm illuminates the challenges that parents face as they’re caught in the delicate balance between providing for their families and dedicating meaningful time to their children.

While the demands of busy schedules may seem overwhelming, the importance of carving out moments of genuine connection with our active kids cannot be overstated. These moments are not merely breaks from the routine but building blocks of resilience, character, and familial bonds. That’s why finding health and wellness activities for kids to do with you is vital.

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Benefits of Engaging in Health and Wellness Activities as a Family

The benefits of engaging in health and wellness activities for kids and families are numerous. Not only do these activities promote physical health, but they also foster emotional well-being and mental clarity for both parents and children. By incorporating such activities into your regular routine, you can create a positive atmosphere in your household while promoting healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

According to research in Frontiers in Psychology, our children’s well-being is directly related to the time we spend with them. Additionally, the positive impacts of spending time with children are also dependent on the type and quality of activity.

For instance, the study showed how fathers tended to choose the more enjoyable aspects of companionship while tutoring their children for school, choosing activities that were more meaningful and less energy-demanding. This leisurely approach is more likely to increase children’s well-being rather than an approach that focuses solely on demands and performance.

Such findings serve as a wake-up call for parents. We need to prioritize the quality of time spent with our children amid the chaos of daily life. This list of wellness activities for your family serves as a guide for parents striving to enrich the lives of their vibrant children and aims to encourage families to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary memories.

Indoor Health and Wellness Activities for Kids

Doing chores together

While doing chores together might seem more like work than play, the wellness benefits are far-reaching. Engaging in household tasks as a family leads to more than just a clean home — it’s also a lesson in teamwork. For busy families, this activity instills a sense of responsibility and accomplishment in children, fostering a shared commitment to maintaining a clean and comfortable living space. Giving kids chores also hits two birds with one stone: lightening the workload for busy parents and serving as an activity outlet for energetic children.

Doing chores together involves assigning age-appropriate tasks to every family member. Mom and former editor at Parenting and Working Mother magazine, Katherine Lee, explains how her seven-year-old would vacuum and clean the floor every weekend and highlights the importance of taking time to explain why your child must do a chore. By framing chores as a collective effort, children can come to understand and appreciate their role in contributing to the family.

Baking for leisure

Unlike the daily task of preparing sustenance, baking for leisure adds a layer of indulgence, serving as a therapeutic and enjoyable escape for both parents and children. This activity also encourages the development of patience and precision, skills that extend beyond the kitchen into various aspects of our children’s lives.

Begin this adventure by choosing a simple and delightful recipe like our banana bread variation. This doesn’t require any baking soda, making it a super easy recipe to start with and enjoy. Organize a designated baking day to ensure everyone can fully engage in the process without feeling rushed. To make the process easier and more fruitful for everyone, make sure to assign roles based on each family member’s age and capabilities, like mixing for younger kids and measuring out ingredients for older ones.

Eating meals mindfully

Unlike the hurried consumption often associated with busy schedules, mindful eating invites families to be fully present during meals. For families on the go, this practice offers a moment of respite and connection amid hectic schedules. For active kids, it instills a sense of appreciation for the nourishment their meals provide, enhancing their overall well-being.

Begin by establishing a designated space for meals, free from distractions like phones or TV, and encouraging open conversations. Emphasize the importance of chewing slowly and appreciating textures and flavors. For younger children, you can turn mealtime into a game by asking them to describe the taste or guess the ingredients. Implementing these practices gradually turns each meal into something to look forward to and helps foster healthier eating habits and a stronger family bond.

Do family yoga together

If you’re looking to teach your children patience and mindfulness, family yoga can be the best place to start. At first glance, yoga can seem mystifying, but the benefits of the activity for physical and mental wellness make it especially important. Yoga can help busy parents relax, while mindfulness can help children learn to get in touch with complex emotions and thoughts as they grow up.

Another perk of yoga is that it can be done pretty much anywhere. Set aside some space in your living room, and lay out towels if you don’t currently own any yoga mats. You can start with 15-minute sessions if you still have younger kids, while 30-minute sessions or longer can be great for older children. After, be sure to check in with each other to keep the good vibes flowing.

Playing board games

Playing board games, as opposed to screen-based activities like watching movies, presents a unique opportunity for busy families to unwind and engage with one another after a long day. Many board games are flexible, allowing families to tailor the experience to their available time. They can also provide a structured yet enjoyable way to spend time with family, as well as enhance children’s social and cognitive skills.

Rotate through a selection of board games to keep things fresh and exciting. For competitive nights where you have a bit more time on your hands, classics like Monopoly can provide hours of entertainment. Alternatively, for a boost in family fun, choose games like Exploding Kittens, which is fairly simple to pick up but can lead to exciting twists and turns in gameplay.

Outdoor Wellness Activities for Kids

Taking nature walks

Taking just ten minutes every morning to stroll through nature can significantly promote physical health and foster a deeper connection with the great outdoors. This sets a positive tone for the day among families with busy schedules, contributing to improved mood and cognitive function.

To make morning walks a habit, choose a scenic route that’s easily accessible. Make sure to invest in a good pair of walking shoes to prevent injury, as well as a broad-spectrum sunscreen, like the Banana Boat Light As Air Lotion SPF 50 or the Blue Lizard Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50+. Experts in Australia, where skin cancer rates are the highest in the world, emphasize the need to apply sunscreen to prevent sunburn, even on cloudy days or during short outings. Protective clothing like a broad-brimmed hat can additionally help for sensitive skin.

Cycling as a family

Cycling is a low-impact sport that’s only slightly more challenging than walking. However, it can be an especially thrilling outlet for active kids with boundless energy, thus serving as effective bonding time and physical activity.

Safety is imperative, though, so make sure that every family member wears protective gear, including helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads. When cycling under the sun, don’t overlook the importance of sunglasses with polarized lenses. Eyewear brand Oakley makes sunglasses with technology that doesn’t just shield against harmful UV rays but also combats glare and enhances contrast on different terrains. If your child is a Fortnite fan, Oakley also carries web-exclusive frames like the Oakley X Fortnite Hydra. By prioritizing designs that your children personally choose, you can also encourage frequent wear and better decision-making skills.

Birdwatching together

Not every outdoor activity requires you to get your blood pumping. Sometimes, the joy lies in sitting back, basking in the sun, and immersing yourself in the serenity of nature. Birdwatching, a tranquil and relaxing activity, can be an excellent choice for families seeking solace amidst their bustling lives.

Alongside encouraging patience and sharpening observation skills, birdwatching introduces a serene contrast to hectic routines. Additionally, you can elevate your experience by investing in quality binoculars like the AX Visio, which uses image recognition technology to identify over 9,000 types of birds and other wildlife. This can ignite curiosity among kids, transforming birdwatching into an educational and engaging adventure for the whole family.

Planting a family garden

The act of planting and tending to a garden can become a shared responsibility, infusing the family routine with a sense of cooperation, loyalty, and accomplishment. As a communal yet extended project, gardening provides a space for open communication and mutual support over the course of weeks or months.

Start by choosing an accessible and well-lit spot in your backyard, or consider a community garden if space is limited. For busy families, it’s beneficial to choose low-maintenance plants and herbs that align with your climate and require minimal care. One example is radishes, which sprout after only three to four days — quick and convenient enough for your family to harvest and sauté with garlic for dinner.

Volunteering as a family

Beyond the intrinsic rewards of altruism, engaging in volunteer activities provides an avenue for busy families and active kids to connect with their broader community. It fosters a sense of social awareness and a shared commitment to making a positive impact, all while strengthening familial bonds.

However, note that initiating family volunteering endeavors requires thoughtful planning. Begin by identifying shared causes that resonate with every family member, from animal welfare to sea pollution, and schedule the activity several weeks in advance. Don’t forget to engage in open conversations about the impact of volunteer efforts after discussing the challenges faced by the community and the collective role your family plays in creating positive change. These discussions can become catalysts for empathy, broadening the horizons of both children and adults while instilling a sense of responsibility for the well-being of others.

In weaving these activities into the tapestry of your family life, the goal is not just to create individual moments but to forge lasting connections. Each of these wellness activities holds the potential to become a cherished chapter in your family’s story, enriching the lives of busy parents and your vibrant, active children.

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Bring On the Fun – 10 Healthy and Wellness Activities for Energetic Families

Benefits of Engaging in Health and Wellness Activities as a Family