Get moving: 5 healthy summer family activities

(BPT) - Summer has arrived and for many kids, sports and activity practices are on hiatus leaving them with plenty of time to lounge on the couch. But summer isn’t the time to get lazy.

Warmer weather provides the perfect opportunity to get more involved in your kids’ lives and spend time together as a family. As a parent, your children will pick up on your habits, good or bad, so it’s important to be a role model for living a healthy way of life by teaching healthy habits starting at a young age.

Show your family the value of an active lifestyle with these healthy family activity ideas from Life Time Fitness:

Introduce your kids to a sport you love. No child is too young to engage in your favorite sport or activity. Whether you’re a basketball player or a yogi, show the kids your enthusiasm for the activity you love. When they see you having fun, they’ll want to try it, too. Also, enroll your kids in classes that align with their interests. Life Time Kids Academy features two to three hours of classes for kids’ ages three months to 11 years in all areas, from fitness and agility, to mind, arts and culture—all in one convenient location, giving children the chance to experience a myriad of activities to find interests of their own.

Try rock climbing. You’ve seen the big rock wall in sports stores and health clubs, but have you taken the challenge of climbing with your kids? Trying out new activities and stepping outside your comfort zone is a big part of enjoying a healthy way of life. Even if you or your kids are nervous in the beginning, try a few training sessions or take some time with certified professionals at Life Time. Doing so will assure you of your safety and calm your nerves. Rock climbing is not only a physical workout, but it also gets your brain moving as you navigate your way to the top.

Get to the pool. It wouldn’t be summer without some time in the water. Your local pool is a great place to head for some fun in the sun. Life Time Swim experts recommend that you find a pool with high quality water standards. Pool water should be clean and clear; if you walk into a pool area and smell chemicals, often times that means there are not enough chemicals in the pool rather than too many. You’ll also want to ensure that the pool has adequate safety standards, such as Life Time’s 25:10 rule (if a child cannot swim more than 25 meters, their parent or guardian must be within 10 feet) and a 3:1 non-swimmer to swimmer ratio. Don’t forget to slather on the sunscreen and reapply every few hours.

Let your kids experience a day camp. For many working parents, it’s a yearly battle to figure out who will take care of their children during the summer days. One solution to this is a summer day camp, like Life Time Kids Summer Camps. This camp, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., is focused on helping kids develop a passion for living healthy and active lifestyles with a full spectrum of engaging activities and a new theme to look forward to each week.

Go for a family walk. Get into a routine of taking an after-dinner walk a few nights each week. If your little ones start to get bored or complain, use some tricks to keep them engaged. For example, keep their attention with a counting game, or make up an elaborate story together. Soon these walks will become a fun family treat.

Use these ideas to keep your family active and safe all summer long. Your kids will go back to school next year with healthy habits and a happy spirit.