Families today are enticed daily with couch potato-like activities: video games, surfing the net, movies, and reality television. Sometimes it’s hard to motivate our children to exercise when it competes with the instant gratification of “entertainment”.

I want my family to have good health and to enjoy the benefits of exercise; I don’t want my children to look like a bunch of…well…potatoes! I know my children won’t get too excited if I dust off my old aerobics tape and use it as our exercise routine. I want to make exercise part of our family culture.

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We all want to enjoy good health. Here are some ways to get our families to be fit:

*Put on some fun upbeat music and just dance. Not only will the kids have fun, but also they’ll get a good laugh.

*Work out in the yard together. Planting a garden, mowing the lawn, and trimming the bushes are great ways to work out; it will also teach the children the benefits of hard work.

*Instead of playing sports games on the computer, get outside and really play them!

*Ditch the weekend movie, and go for a hike. Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while getting a good workout.

*Put away the car keys whenever possible. With the cost of gas soaring, walking or riding bikes to get from one place to another makes good fitness—and economical sense.

*Set the example and invite the kids along. My three-year-old does her sit-ups and leg-lifts right along with me.

*Have fun together. Whatever you do to add fitness into your family culture, make it fun. Not only will your family enjoy the health benefits, your family will enjoy the special bond that comes from spending time together.

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