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11 Feb 2007 01:18 PM

Coach Mom: Making Up Your Game Plan

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

You know, when we became parents no one mentioned that being parents made us:

• Chefs
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Teachers
• Coaches
• Nutritionists
• Physical therapists
• Psychologists
• And much, much more

But in essence, becoming a parent makes us the jacks and jills of all trades. We provide for our children and our families. It's amazing, in some ways, that as parents we become even more aware of the needs of the rest of our families as well. We pay attention to the health of our parents, our siblings and our grandparents.

So when it comes to our family's fitness - we're the primary facilitators, cheerleaders and coaches that can get them up and moving. We're in charge of the activities, we decide what they do and how often they do it and even when they are going to do it. Now I know - when it comes to older children and teenagers that this may seem an unenviable task - but the truth is, Coach Mom and Coach Dad - your kids need you to highlight the way and to make it possible for them to achieve their goals.

Your Game Plan

So how can you make up your game plan? You start by setting the example. If it's possible for you to be physically active, you should be. There's a saying in the teaching world - a teacher on her feet is worth two on their seats. When it comes to taking care of your kid's and their fitness plans - this couldn't be truer.

We know that it's important to make fitness fun for them, but it's equally important to recognize that repetitive exercises can be as tedious and boring for our children as they are for us. There is much you can do around the house and as a family that can actually promote fitness and physical activities without subscribing to repetitious sets of exercises.

While some of these activities may seem limited to the warmer months - consider for a moment that you can take a walk in most kinds of weather - whether you are snowshoeing in the winter or hiking in the summer. You can ride bikes together, roller skate together or go out in the yard and throw the ball around to each other.

You can rake leaves. You can wash the car. You can go out and wash all the exterior windows on the house. Now before you groan - the last time we did this here, we were all soaking wet, laughing our butts off and our windows were scrubbed bright, shiny and clean. Most of these activities will burn 100 calories each - give or take - in the 20 to 30 minutes it takes to perform them.

Families that Work Together, Bond Together

Too often we're all running in different directions, doing different things and with different goals in mind. When we work together - whether on household chores, having fun or performing physical exercise - we're encouraging ourselves to talk, to laugh and to spend time together. In every aspect, these types of activities are beneficial for your health, your family's health and the overall emotional well being.

What other activities can you plan, Coach Mom or Dad, to get your family active and more?

Related Articles:

The Idiot Box & Fitness

Does Your Child Get Enough ZzzZzzz's?

Kid Fitness: The Burden of Being a Teenager

Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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