Six Ways to Exercise with Kids

Exercising with your little one can be very difficult. If you workout from home with your kids around, you’ll know that it can be very distracting. Getting away to a gym for an hour can be equally as challenging. How can you manage your little ones while finishing a quality workout? 

Though the struggle is real, there are ways to accomplish a quality workout with kids. Here are a few suggestions of what you can do to workout while getting fresh air from the outdoors. 
 
1. Do Pilates 


After childbirth, your body needs to rest. Heavy exercising is typically not advised before six weeks postpartum. During the early postpartum stages, it can be difficult to figure out how to exercise with a newborn.  

Luckily, you can do Pilates with your baby right by your side. If you’re not familiar with Pilates, it is defined as “a system of repetitive exercises performed on a mat or other equipment to promote strength, stability and flexibility”. Pilates is a good postpartum choice because it strengthens your core and smaller muscles gently.  

Here’s a great article with a Pilates with Baby routine. The great thing is that these exercises can be done safely before six weeks postpartum. Grab a yoga mat and sit in the backyard or living room to start exercising. 
 
2. Wear a baby carrier 


Baby carriers can be extremely helpful for working out. Lunges, squats, and other standing exercises are feasible while wearing a baby carrier. We love this baby carrier with an adjustable seat and strap. 

If you’re looking for a good baby-wearing workout, check out this full body circuit workout. Baby carriers can also be good if you’re going for a walk or visiting a zoo or amusement park with your little one. 
 
3. Run or walk with a stroller 


If you have a small child, taking them in a stroller is ideal as you can run or walk with your little one. There are several brands of strollers that are meant specifically for jogging. This Jeep Deluxe Jogger offers a smooth ride with a variety of features. 

However, before taking your child in a jogging stroller you should be cognizant of his or her age. It is not advised to take a baby jogging before six months of age as they have little to no neck support. Each child develops at a different pace, so be sure to talk with your pediatrician to be cleared before jogging with your child. 

If you like to run, jogging with a stroller can be helpful for both your physical and your mental health. Place your phone and water bottle in the top console, buckle your little one into the seat and off you go for a quality workout. You can even bring snacks, drinks and toys to keep your child busy while you’re working out. 
 
4. Visit the park 


If your child won’t sit still while in a stroller, you may want to consider taking your little one to a park or playground. Though it isn’t a typical workout, you’ll still be getting plenty of exercise by chasing your child around the playground. You’ll also build memories, so it’s a win-win situation. 

If the park is nearby, you could walk there with the stroller and incentivize your squirmy little one by telling him or her that you’re on your way to the park. Finding a park with a playground is especially fun for your little one. At the same time, you can do simple playground exercises, such a pull ups and pushups, squats, and other body weight exercises. Checkout this 20-minute playground workout for a full body workout that will have you gaining muscle and burning calories. 
 
5. Go swimming 


Swimming is great exercise. If your little one is a newborn, you can tread in the water while holding your baby. If your little one is old enough to use a kickboard, you can tread water while holding onto their kickboard. 

You can also catch you child when he or she jumps into the pool for a great arm workout. Treading water while waiting to catch your little one also helps you to get some exercise. We recommend a water fitness jogging belt to help support and stabilize your aquatic workout.  
 
6. Go for a bike ride 


If you have multiple kiddos, going for a bike ride is a great option. There are a few ways to go for a bike ride with kids. One option is for you to ride your bike and pull the kids in a trailer behind your bike. We love this bike trailer that safely transports two kids. It also folds up for easy transportation and storage. 

A second option is for your kids to ride their bikes alongside you. Of course, you’ll need to keep a close eye on your little ones so that they don’t ride their bikes out onto the street. If you have a child or two that can’t keep up on their own bike, you could always pull them in a trailer behind your bike. 
 
One benefit to exercising with your kids outside is that you’ll get immune support with your daily dose of Vitamin D. Additionally, these tips can be great for getting your little one’s energy out. And don’t forget to pair the exercise with CoraCue® Immune Support* Multivitamin for optimum immune support! 
 

Works Cited 
https://www.verywellfit.com/what-is-the-pilates-method-of-exercise-2704855