The National Recreation and Park Association is promoting National Family Health & Fitness Day at locations all across the US. This special family exercise event is held on the second Saturday of June each year and is a great opportunity to learn more about how to incorporate healthy habits into your life. Whether your community is participating in this event or not, you can get your family involved by planning fun and healthy family activities yourself.
During the hot summer months, you may already be planning to spend a lot of time cooling off with a swim. Learn more about how to turn playtime at the pool into family exercise, and how to stay safe in the water.
Lounging poolside and working on your tan is a tempting way to relax, but try hopping in the pool with your kids this summer and joining in the fun. Introduce them to these great family activities and sneak in some exercise while you’re at it.
A simple net stretched across the pool provides the perfect setting for a very wet game of volleyball. You can also put a children’s basketball net on the side of the pool, or find one that floats, and shoot some hoops. And of course, there’s always “shark tag,” which involves swimming to catch each other.
Cover a watermelon in oil until it’s nice and slippery, then challenge your kids to push it from one end of the pool to the other. With several watermelons, you can create a hilarious racing event.
Fill a clear plastic bottle with water and throw it in the pool. It will nearly disappear while in the water, making it difficult to spot. See who can find the hidden bottle first.
Practice doing underwater handstands, then see who can stay underwater with their feet in the air longer than anyone else.
Pool noodles have a million and one uses, with the perk of being inexpensive. Float on them and race across the pool, blow into one end and spray each other during a water fight, or use them for games. Attach both ends together with duct tape and make pool noodle circles that will float on the water. Throw balls or frisbees and try to get them to land inside the circles. You can even assign different point values to each circle for an added challenge.
Another great way to celebrate National Family Health & Fitness Day is to review what it takes to stay safe during your favorite family activities, especially the ones in the water. Check out the tips below and learn more about the 10 Golden Rules of Water Safety from SwimJim .
Learn to swim with the caring and highly-trained professionals at SwimJim . We offer classes for all ages, from babies to adults, in the New York and Houston areas. Contact us today to get ready in time for National Family Health & Fitness Day!
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