Don't let summer heat drain your workout

Jul 18, 2012 12:15 AM by Molly Cerreta Smith

Posted in Parenting / Family Fun / Family Activities

Dive in

Obviously one of the best ways to keep cool in the summer is to jump in the pool. It also turns out that swimming is a great form of exercise for the whole family. Make swim time double as a workout by tossing diving sticks in the pool for you and your kids to retrieve, swimming lap races across the pool or playing a game like Marco Polo that will keep the whole family moving.

Check out these tips to learn to exercise with your kids >>

Keep on rollin’

After the sun goes down and the weather drops a few degrees, head out on a family bike ride around your neighborhood. Make sure you’re equipped with lights on all the bikes, helmets and reflective clothing. Encourage your family to stay together as you discover your neighborhood after dark or bike to a nearby park with illuminated sidewalks. Put little ones in a bumper seat or bike trailer.

Don’t miss these 10 ways to encourage an active family lifestyle >>

Xbox or Wii games

When it’s just too hot to go outside, pop in a fun video game that will get the whole family sweating. Turn your living room into a dance party for your tweens with Just Dance Greatest Hits, $35; check out Kinect Sports Ultimate Collection for sports fans, $49; and younger children can move and groove with animals on Kinectimals - Now with Bears, $34.

Read up on making fitness fun for the whole family >>

Take a class together

Do some research to discover what your area offers in terms of family classes. Doing karate or yoga side by side with your spouse and kids is not only a great way to beat the heat while you get some exercise, it’s also a great way for the whole family to bond. If a structured class doesn’t work for you and your family, visit a local rec center with indoor courts where you can start up a friendly game of basketball or volleyball.

Get creative

Don’t blame the heat for not being active — there are plenty of fun and creative ways to get moving around the house. Turn on the tunes and play an old-fashioned game of freeze dance or get into the groove with an active game of Simon Says.