How to be active at park playdates

Between work, school and all the other little obligations that make up a family’s life, finding time for self-care can be challenging to say the least. If regularly exercising tends to fall toward the bottom of your to-do list, consider getting off the bench and joining your kids in the fun at their next park playdate.

“The park is full of potential opportunities for parents to sneak in a quick workout while their children are playing,” says Dr. Jennette Berry, a family medicine physician at Advocate Health Care.

Many pieces of playground equipment can easily fill in for the resources you’ll find at the gym including:

• Monkey bars for pull ups
• Park bench for tricep dips and planks
• Swings for split squats
• Stairs in lieu of walking on the elliptical machine

Running around with your kids playing tag might not be the same as your daily jog, but exercising in 15-minute intervals can add up throughout the day.

As a bonus, these active family park playdates could set the foundation for children leading healthier lifestyles when they become adults.

“Actively playing with your children offers a fun bonding experience and gives you an opportunity to demonstrate the importance of exercising as a way of taking care of our bodies,” Dr. Berry says.

Here are some ways to add active fun for the whole family during your next park playdate:

• Ride your bikes over to the park instead of driving
• Go to a park with a trail for a family nature hike
• Practice yoga and do tree poses next to the trees
• Bring equipment to enjoy at the park amenities such as a basketball, volleyball and tennis racket

The fun doesn’t need to stop during colder weather months. In the winter, your family can:

• Bring supplies to build and decorate a snowman
• Make snow angels
• Try cross country skiing or snowshoeing
• Go ice skating

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