Exercising together as a family is a great way to strengthen family bonds and relationships.

Good health and fitness makes every day of life better and more fulfilling for parents and children alike. Kids learn about exercise, proper nutrition, managing stress, and healthy living from what they see at home. It is vital to demonstrate good habits, offer lots of encouragement in a non-competitive way. When the family spends time engaged in physical activity, it is much easier for kids to stay healthy and adopt a lifelong healthy lifestyle. You'll have lots of fun together, and you'll be showing your kids the importance of getting physical activity on a regular basis.

Create a family fitness plan just for your family and take contributions from every family member so that everyone knows they are a part of the plan. Try these tips to get the family to exercise together:

1. Make exercise a family affair.
Schedule regular time during the week for family physical activities. Let each family member take turns choosing an activity to participate in as a group. Make sure they choose something they enjoy and do well, that makes them feel good about themselves. Consider starting the day with a family stretching session. Kids’ yoga poses are excellent for overall stretching to loosen the muscles after sleep and strengthen them for the day ahead.

2. Join a gym together.
Families that play together stay together. Get a family membership at your local gym and plan times when all or some of the family members can work out together. At birthdays and holidays, select fitness-oriented gifts and equipment that promote physical activity such as work out gloves or shoes. Have contests on who can keep a Hula Hoop up longest or swim the most laps. Find rewards other than food for the winners.

3. Plan active vacations.
Select family holidays where physical activity will be a central factor. Base this on the most common interests such as skiing, golf, kayaking, camping, or take cruise on a ship with a full gym on board. Join a tour group that will lead walking tours of the area you are visiting. If you take an driving holiday, bring along the bikes and fishing rods.

4. Exercise for charity.
There are lots of ways to stay fit while doing good deeds. Consider having the whole family enter a fun-run or bike-a-thon for a charity. Be a part of a clean up crew. Have the whole family volunteer to help with physical activity events, games, and fund-raisers at each child's school.

5. Have established indoor and outdoor activities for the family.
If you have standard indoor and outdoor activities you regularly do, you’ll have a variety to choose from for all moods, energy levels, and weather. For indoors: have designated areas for tumbling, rolling, and yoga; keep a collection of active games like Twister, juggling, or a mini-trampoline. For outdoors: walk the dog; hit golf balls at a driving range or play miniature golf; spend the day bowling; fly kites or toss Frisbees on the beach or in a park; ice skating or in-line skating; backyard sports like basketball, softball are great.

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